260 FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



speedily disposed of by the assembled company. If 

 the working ants chance to find ripe fruit or large 

 pieces of game that cannot be divided into small 

 parts, they adopt another mode of procedure. 

 Placed in possession of so great riches, they content 

 themselves with the juice alone, of which they im- 

 bibe copiously, then return home with stomachs full 

 of liquid food which they disgorge, drop by drop, as 

 fast as their hungry comrades present themselves. 



"The ant in need of nourishment strikes rapidly 

 with its antennae those of the ant expected to render 

 the desired assistance. Presently they are seen to 

 approach each other with open mouths and tongues 

 out in readiness for the transfer of the nutritive 

 liquor from one to the other. During this operation 

 the ant receiving the mouthful of sustenance keeps 

 up an uninterrupted caressing, with fore legs and 

 antennae, of the ant ministering to its needs. 



"Who is not familiar with the lice that infest 

 plants, assembled in dense groups that contain each 

 more members than one could easily count? There 

 are black lice on the beanstalks, green ones on the 

 rosebushes, their stomachs carrying, behind, two lit- 

 tle tubes whence oozes from time to time a tiny drop 

 of liquid. This liquid is the ant 's main dependence 

 for food. Let us follow an ant on its rounds among 

 the plant-lice. 



"It goes hither and thither among the motionless 

 herd, which is nowise disturbed by its presence. 

 Having found what it is after, the ant stations itself 

 close to one of the lice, which it proceeds to caress 



