ANNULOSA : INSECTA. 



251 



guinea, on the other hand, the number of slaves is much 

 less, and both masters and slaves occupy themselves in per- 

 forming most of the duties necessary for the community. 

 The masters, however, go alone when on slave-making ex- 

 peditions; and in case of a migration, the masters carry the 

 slaves in their mouths. 



A second singular fact in the history of Ants is found in the 

 relations which subsist between them and the Aphides, or 

 Plant-lice. The Aphides secrete, or rather excrete, a peculiar 

 viscid and sweet liquid, by means of a gland which is situated 

 towards the extremity of the abdomen, and communicates with 

 the exterior by two tubular filaments. Ants are extremely 

 fond of this excretion, and it is a well-established fact that 

 the Aphides allow themselves to be milked, as it were, by the 

 Ants. For this purpose the Ant touches and caresses the ab- 

 domen of the Aphis with its antennae, whereupon the latter 

 voluntarily exudes a drop of the coveted fluid. Ordinarily the 

 Ants seek the Aphides upon plants; but it is asserted that, in 

 some cases, they keep Aphides, much in the same way as human 

 beings keep cows though this is probably partly imaginary. 



ORDER IX. STREPSIPTERA. Females without wings or feet, 

 parasitic. Males possessing the posterior pair of wings, which 

 are large, membranous, and folded longitudinally like a fan. 

 The anterior pair of wings rudimentary, represented by a pair 

 of singular twisted organs. Jaws abortive. 



The Strepsiptera constitute a small order, which includes cer- 

 tain parasites of minute size, 

 found on Bees and other 

 Hymenoptera. The female 

 is a soft vermiform grub, 

 without feet, but with a 

 horny head, which it pro- 

 trudes from between the 

 abdominal segments of its 

 host. The larvae are active, 

 and possess six feet ; whilst 

 the males (fig. 91) are 

 winged, and fly about with 

 great activity. 



ORDER XII. COLEOP- 

 TERA. Mouth masticatory, furnished with mandibles and 

 maxillae. Wings four; rarely absent; anterior pair chitinous, 

 forming protective cases (elytra) for the large, membranous 

 posterior wings (fig. 92). The metamorphosis is complete, 

 and the pupa is quiescent. 



Fi s- 



r itera. Stylofs Spencii, greatly 

 ed (after West wood). 



