HOHEY-DEW. 



THAT aphides secrete, or rather excrete, a saccharine 

 fluid, called honey-dew, which constitutes an import- 

 ant part of the food of ants, is a fact well known to natural- 

 ists. It must not be supposed, however, that this was its 

 primitive use. But that it is in some way connected with 

 the preservation of the tender creatures by which it is elabo- 

 rated, there can exist not the slightest doubt. 



Concerning its origin and application, and the benefit 

 which it secures to its authors, various opinions have been 

 hazarded, but they have all been too unsatisfactory to merit 

 more than a passing notice. That it was of some advantage 

 to young aphides was surmised by many, but the proofs 

 necessary to sustain such a surmise were unfortunately want- 

 ing. It was left to the latter half of the nineteenth century 

 to throw correct light upon the subject. 



Whilst engaged some few years ago in the study of the 

 species that affects the blossoms of one of our gourds the 

 Cucurbita ovifera of botanists certain phenomena were ob- 

 served, which promised an easy and speedy solution of the 

 problem. 



Gathered in compact masses, like companies of soldiery 

 preparing for a foray, hundreds of aphides were seen, busily 

 feeding, all over the flowers. There were old and young, 

 not an indiscriminate mingling of ages and sizes, but an 

 orderly arrangement of families, each family preceded by its 

 own appropriate head. First came the very young of each 

 family, only to be followed by those that were older, leaving 

 the oldest of all to lead up the rear. 



