THE COTTON ROOT-LOUSE 135 



were eating the aphids, in the act of carrying them 

 to some desirable food plant. They were not eating 

 the aphids, but they were merely transferring them 

 from a poor food-plant or from their burrows to 

 another or better food-plant, just as the mother cat 

 carries her kittens from one place to another." 



Jack stood and stared at the entomologist, with 

 his mouth wide open. Then the entire group of 

 farmers burst into a laugh which angered him. 



"Piffle," he exclaimed. "Nonsense ! I have been 

 farming all my life and you can't make me believe 

 such a fool thing as that." Thereupon he turned on 

 his heels and went straight home. Just what he 

 said when he arrived home no one has been able to 

 find out exactly. 



The entomologist looked serious, and did not know 

 what to think of such a performance, when Joe 

 turned to him and said, "Don't mind him, because 

 when he has a notion you nor anybody else could 

 get him away from it. Go on and tell us more about 

 the ants and aphids. What object has the ant in 

 being so plagued hospitable to the aphids?" 



The entomologist continued : " This question of 

 ants attending aphids is an old one and is quite well 

 understood, not only in regard to these particular 

 ants but with others as well. These are known as 

 the corn or cotton-field ants because they are so 

 common and so well known to everybody. They 



