PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 335 



Unparalleled and unique in the animal kingdom as this history may 

 appear, you will scarcely deem the next I have to relate less singular and 

 less worthy of admiration. That ants should have their milch cattle is as 

 extraordinary as that they should have slaves. Here, perhaps, you may 

 again feel a fit of incredulity shake you ; but the evidence for the fact I 

 am now stating being abundant and satisfactory, I flatter myself it will 

 not shake you long. 



The loves of the ants and the Aphides (for these last are the kine in 

 question) have long been celebrated ; and that there is a connexion 

 between them you may at any time, in the proper season, convince your- 

 self; for you will always find the former very busy on those trees and 

 plants on which the latter abound : and if you examine more closely, you 

 will discover that their object in thus attending upon them is to obtain 

 the saccharine fluid, which may well be denominated their milk *, that they 

 secrete. 



This fluid, which is scarcely inferior to honey in sweetness, issues in 

 limpid drops from the abdomen of these insects, not only by the ordinary 

 passage, but also by two setiform tubes placed, one on each side, just above 

 it. Their sucker being inserted in the tender bark, is without intermission 

 employed in absorbing the sap, which, after it has passed through the 

 system, they keep continually discharging by these organs. When no ants 

 attend them, by a certain jerk of the body, which takes place at regular 

 intervals, they ejaculate it to a distance : but when the ants are at hand, 

 watching the moment when the Aphides emit their fluid, they seize and 

 suck it down immediately. This, however, is the least of their talents; 

 for they absolutely possess the art of making them yield it at their pleasure; 

 or, in other words, of milking them. On this occasion their antennae are 

 their fingers ; with these they pat the abdomen of the aphis on each side 

 alternately, moving them very briskly; a little drop of fluid immediately 

 appears, which the ant takes into its mouth, one species (Myrmica rubra) 

 conducting it with its antennae, which are somewhat swelled at the end. 

 When it has thus milked one, it proceeds to another, and so on, till being 

 satiated it returns to the nest. 



But you are not arrived at the most singular part of this history, that 

 ants make a property of these cows, for the possession of which they con- 

 tend with great earnestness, and use every means to keep them to them- 

 selves. Sometimes they seem to claim a right to the Aphides that inhabit 

 the branches of a tree o"r the stalks of a plant ; and if stranger ants attempt 

 to share their treasure with them, they endeavour to drive them away, and 

 may be seen running about in a great bustle, and exhibiting every symptom 

 of inquietude and anger. Sometimes, to rescue them from their rivals, they 

 take their Aphides in their mouth; they generally keep guard round them, 

 and when the branch is conveniently situated, they have recourse to an 

 expedient still more effectual to keep off interlopers, they inclose it in a 



Myrmica {M.pahata) found in Brazil, whose nest contains the neuters (doubtless 

 employed as slaves, though unfortunately M. Lund had not an opportunity of ob- 

 serving the excursions in which the pupas they sprung from were captured) of a 

 neighbouring species, M. erythrothorax. (Lacordaire, Introd. d VEntom. ii. 503.) 



1 The ant ascends the tree, says Linne, that it may milk its cows, the Aphides, not 

 kill them. Syst. Nat. 962. Sp. 3. 



