CHAP. X. YELLOW ANTS F. PLAVA. 337 



in a kind of paddock near the nest, which often com- 

 municates with it." 



(338.) The most remarkable " cowkeeper" among 

 the ants is a well-known native species, the Formica 

 flava, or yellow ant of Gould. This species is more 

 methodical and provident than the rest, for it usually 

 secures a large herd of Aphides within the common 

 nest. The Aphis they select for this purpose is called 

 Aphis radicum, from deriving its food more especially 

 from the roots of grass and other plants. The yellow 

 ant transports these honey-flies from the neighbourhood, 

 probably by subterranean galleries, excavated for the 

 purpose, leading from the nest in all directions; and 

 thus, without going out, it has always at hand a copious 

 supply of food. On these creatures they bestow the 

 same care and solicitude as to their own offspring. They 

 regularly moisten th eggs with their tongue, carrying 

 them in their mouths with the utmost tenderness, and 

 giving them the advantage of the sun. " This last 

 fact," observes Mr. Kirby, " I state from my own ob- 

 servation ; for once, upon opening one of these ant- 

 hills early in the spring, on a sunny day, I observed a 

 parcel of these eggs, which I knew by their black 

 colour, very near the surface of the nest. My attack 

 put the ants into a great ferment, and they immediately 

 began to carry these interesting objects of their care 

 into the lower apartments of their nest. It is of great 

 consequence to them to forward the hatching of these 

 eggs as much as possible, in order to insure an early 

 source of food to their colony ; and they had, doubt- 

 less, in this instance, brought them up to the warmest 

 part of their dwelling with this view/ 1 * These yellow 

 ants are equally careful of their Aphides after they are 

 hatched : for if their nest is disturbed, they carry them 

 into its interior; and, if other ants attempt to make 

 them their prey, they defend them with the greatest 

 fierceness ; they have been known, also, to carry them 

 about in their mouths, either to change their pasture, 



* Int. to Ent. vol. ii. p. 91. 



I 



