30 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



Ants Keep Cows. 



KENNETH. Ants do so many funny things even keep 

 cows. I wonder how they get them and if you have any. 



ANT. We don't keep cows (plant lice), but you'll find 

 ants around here that do. Some keep the cows in their 

 ant homes. 



KENNETH. Go on and tell us where they get them. 



ANT. The ants steal the eggs and take them home and 

 hatch them ; or, they carry the queen plant louse home and 

 let her lay eggs there. Others steal the baby cows and 

 raise them. But you'll find that the ants around here 

 simply climb a tree and milk the cows where they pasture. 



KENNETH. We must try to find these ants and go Avith 

 them to milk. 



ANT. Some ants kill the old cows before taking the 

 young ones home. 



KENNETH. What is the most common insect used as 

 cows ? 



ANT. Don't you know the small, greenish or brownish 

 louse that gets on the plants in your yard! Sometimes it 

 is called the aphis or aphid. But certain other insects may 

 also be used as cows. 



KENNETH. What other? 



ANT. In India the ants fence in the Brown Bug or 

 Blue Caterpillar and use it for a cow. Most anywhere 

 jumping plant lice and plant scales may also be so used. 



KENNETH. How are cows fed that are taken down 

 into the dark nest? 



ANT. Sometimes on the root-like parts of tiny mush- 

 rooms that ants raise in the nest for that purpose, and 

 sometimes on the root juices of other plants. 



