248 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



but may live anywhere even on the trunk if there is a scar 

 with new bark. 



CECIL. The ants take good care of their herds and are 

 well paid. They do all the milking and try to keep other 

 insects away from the dairy. Yellow jackets would carry 

 oft the calves to feed their babies, and ladybugs would eat 

 the cows, and other insects would steal the honey and pay 

 nothing for it, if the ants were not such watchful shep- 

 herds. 



KENNETH. I suppose all children see plant lice (cows) 

 on the weeds, garden plants, flowers and shrubs around 

 the house. The lice are generally green or brown. They 

 are called ant-cows because ants milk them. I found some 

 white lice on the cabbage. After I rubbed their coats off 

 they were green. 



DOROTHY. I see the cows often shed their old coats 

 for new ones that fit better. The cabbage leaves are cov- 

 ered with their old coats. I guess the "bloom" on the 

 cabbage keeps ants and many other insects away. These 

 cows don't need any ants. 



KENNETH. But these cows give milk all the same. 

 They kick the balls loose, and the wind blows them away. 



CECIL. You ought to see them drill into the cabbage 

 for sap. They stand on their heads, kick their neighbors, 

 and give their bodies a twist. When the captain pumps, 

 this causes a wave of kicks that passes out to the edge of 

 the company. New stunt. Let's try it, boys. 



KENNETH. Yes. They drill, or pump, by the pulse- 

 once every second. 



CECIL. Here's a cow with wings. I suppose she will 

 soon fly away, and soon become the mother or grandmother 

 of 5,000 new citizens. But the winged lice are not the only 

 ones to lay eggs. 



