87 



There were other cocoons in the nest differ- 

 ent from those of either the red or the black ants, 

 and at first Nipper did not know what they were. 



She knew later, however, when out from them 

 were hatched 

 little Aphides, 

 or ant cows. 

 These are little 

 insects such as 

 one often finds 

 on the stems of 

 rosebushes or / 

 other plants, or ^v_.'^ 

 sometimes on 

 roots under 

 the ground. 

 They are the 

 cows of the 

 ants. 



Nipper learned, too, how delicious was the 

 honey, or ant-cow milk, that could be coaxed from 

 them. Riddler taught her how to stroke their 

 bodies gently with her feet and antennae till the 

 tiny drop of honey came from them just as milk 

 does from a cow, and then how to lick it up. 



Ants and their Cows 



