OBSERVATIONS ON ANTS 113 



riors of a colony will not even feed themselves, but depend upon the 

 slaves to keep them from starving. 



There is another species of slave makers, whose case is quite at 

 variance with the insect mentioned above. This ant expends as much 

 energy in home building and other work as it does in kidnapping. 

 Consequently its home is in a healthier condition than that of its 

 dependent, indolent cousin, even though its architecture is a cross 

 between the ideas of slave and master. 



But time will undoubtedly develop this ant into becoming more 

 and more indolent, as it becomes more accustomed to depending upon 

 its slaves. Indolence means the breaking down of its once strong 

 home and instincts. Time may even obliterate it. 



Let us leave these creatures already on the downward path to their 

 fate. There are other ants to be considered, insects that have learned 

 to better themselves. 



There is a tiny family of true bugs, known as Aphids, often bright 

 red or green in color, which gather in great clusters upon the stems 

 and leaves of plants. They are equipped with a sharp sucking 

 apparatus with which to draw the sweet sap from the plants upon 

 which they live. Strange as it may seem, many kinds of ants have 

 learned to extract the sweet liquid from the bodies of these little 

 insects without injuring them in any way. This operation is per- 

 formed by stroking the aphid very gently with the feelers and jaws. 

 A stimulus is set up by the stroking, whereby the aphid exudes a 

 minute drop of honey dew, which is greatly relished by the ant. So 

 much have ants become associated with aphids that they are generally 

 known as ants' cows, and wherever the little creatures are found 

 clustered upon a plant, one is almost sure to see the attending ants 

 fussing about and tenderly protecting them. 



Under normal conditions, most of the aphids die as cold weather 

 approaches, and this the ants appear to be aware of. With them they 



