Ants. 29 



because their ancestors no doubt had eyes. In 

 neither of these cases have I ever seen an ant 

 take the slightest notice of either of these insects. 

 One might almost imagine they had the cap of 

 invisibility. 



12. It is certain that the ants (if I may so say) 

 sanction the residence of these insects in their 

 nests. An unauthorised interloper would be at 

 once killed. I have, therefore, ventured to suggest 

 that these insects may, perhaps, act as scavengers. 



In other cases the association is more close, and 

 the ants take the greatest care of their guests. 



It appears that many of these insects produce 

 a secretion which serves as food for the ants. 

 This is certainly the case, for instance, with a 

 curious beetle (fig. 9), which is quite blind, and 



Fig. 9---CLAVIGER. 



appears to be absolutely dependent upon the ants. 

 It even seems to have lost the power of feeding 

 itself; at any rate, it is habitually fed by the ants, 



