XXVIII 



THE ANTS' "COW-SHED" 



FEW readers of books on natural history have 

 not heard of the "cattle" kept by ants, but how 

 many realize that our own ants, the creatures 

 which seem to us so common and so insignificant, 

 are among the species which engage in the homely 

 occupation of "milking"? They do not, however, 

 drive their herds to pasture in the morning and 

 go for them at night. Perhaps this is because 

 there are no "boy" ants to attend to such chores. 

 The ants, however, know when it is milking time, 

 and have learned that ill-treatment is not the best 

 way to persuade the cows to give copious supplies 

 of "milk." Each ant stands near one of the tiny 

 cattle and strokes and pats the creature until it 

 good-naturedly gives of its sweet honey-dew. 



But what of these "cows that ants milk," and 

 where may they be found? On milk-weed stalks, 

 on maples, elms and hickories ; in fact, on every 

 roadside weed, however ordinary, and on every 

 tree, they are likely to be found. The ants know 

 where to look, and if you would see them "go 

 a-milking" you have only to sit down by some 

 thrifty weed and watch. The aphids, or plant- 

 lice, for these cows are none else, are literally in 

 herds. They swarm over the plant, especially on 

 the tender young shoots at its top. They are 



