36 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



subject to the onslaughts of leaf-cutting ants, 

 whole armies of which will, at times, render a 

 district almost denuded of foliage in a short while. 

 The Acacias, which have enlisted the sympathies 

 of the thorn- dwelling ants, are perfectly secure 

 from attack. When the leaf -cutting species arrives 

 on the scene it is to find the situation already 

 occupied by hordes of ants fired by the enthusiasm 

 which the defence of a home will always inspire. 

 It is interesting to note the manner in which the 

 ants are encouraged to take up their residence in 

 the thorns. These when young are quite soft, 

 and have their interiors filled with sweet edible 

 pulp. As the insect eats away the contents of 

 that which is to be its home, the thorn swells at 

 the base and thus becomes more commodious. 

 As well, at the bottom of each leaflet there is 

 produced a small sweet gland, and in addition a 

 tiny yellow food body at the end of each division 

 of the leaf. So that it will be seen that the tree 

 makes handsome provision for its army of de- 

 fenders. It is only during the wet season that 

 such liberal arrangements are made for the wel- 

 fare of the ants. As soon as the time for the 

 sending out of young shoots is past the honey 

 glands dry up, and, left without their food supply, 

 the majority of the ants perish. A sufficient 



