HONEYDEW. 21 



of ants, whose modus operandi was as follows : Three 

 or more generally surround a single Coccid ; one of 

 them, usually the first comer, would place its front 

 legs on the back of the Coccid, with its head in the 

 same direction as the latter ; it would then commence 

 to stroke the back with its front legs and antennae; 

 when tired of this a second ant would repeat the pro- 

 cess, and so on, each awaiting its turn. Although I 

 watched them for some time I did not see them ex- 

 tract anything from the Coccids. Judging from what 

 I could perceive, the Coccids were rarely free from the 

 ants ; they appeared much harassed, and had evidently 

 tried to protect themselves by wedging their bodies 

 into the smallest crevices that would admit them ; and 

 through the constant visits of the ants the bodies of 

 the Coccids were almost denuded of their mealy 

 covering." 



The mutual relations of ants amicably dwelling with 

 subterranean Coccids scarcely come under this head- 

 ing, but it is of much importance, and those interested 

 should read Mr. W. W. Smith's interesting papers on 

 " The Origin of Ants' Nests,"* as observed by him in 

 the New Zealand species. Unfortunately I have little 

 to contribute to this subject ; but, in the light of what 

 has already been stated with regard to ants being 

 attracted by Coccid-secreted honeydew, it seems rea- 

 sonable to infer that the subterranean Coccids found 

 dwelling with ants may also secrete a sweet fluid, and 

 if so would in a very great measure account for the 

 interdependence of these insects.! 



* 'Entomologist's Monthly Magazine,' S.S., vol. iii, pp. 60, 307. 



f In N. Konkan, India, Mr. Wroughton has recently discovered a 

 remarkable Coccid (Perissopneumon ferox, Newst.), which he says is 

 " kept in special nests built for the purpose by (Ecopbylla smaragdina " 

 [Newst., 'Ent. Mo. Mag./ vol. ix, p. 251]. 



