134 



Life and Immortality. 



PSEUDARGIOLUS BUTTERFLY. 

 Larva Feeding on Bud of Black Snakeroot, and Guarded by Ants. 



Four species of ants may be seen attending, not the small 

 larvae, but those that have attained the nearly mature condi- 

 tion. They are invariably found on or near the larva. Their 

 actions, as they run over the body, caressing with antennae, 

 evidently persuading the larva to emit a drop of the fluid, 

 are alike curious and interesting. Most of this caressing is 

 done about the anterior segments, and while the ants are 

 thus occupied, or rather, while they are absent from the last 

 segments, the tubes of the twelfth seem expanded to their 

 full extent, and so remain, without retracting or throbbing, 

 until the ants come hurrying along with great excitement 

 and set foot or antenna directly on or close by the tubes, 



