76 WAYS OF THE SIX-FOOTED 



the grain up and dry it in the hot sun, and then return 

 it to the granaries. 



The most interesting instance of food provision by 

 the ants is given by Professor Wheeler, who has shown 

 that the leaf-cutter ants of Texas cut and drag leaves 

 into their nests for the sake of the edible fungus that 

 grows upon them there ; these ants are true mushroom 

 growers. 



Of all the property belonging to ants, probably the 

 plant-lice are cared for with most forethought and 

 intelligence. The fact that the ants used the aphids 

 for milch cows was discovered nearly a century ago, but 

 the special care they give to their live stock has been 

 a subject of more recent study. Almost any one may 

 have observed ants running up and down the trunks 

 of trees and shrubs. It is no joy of climbing nor 

 desire for a wide outlook that leads the ants to ascend 

 trees, but because the leaves of the trees afford pas- 

 turage for their small cattle, the aphids. These little 

 creatures exude voluntarily drops of a sweet liquid 

 known as honey dew. The process of milking is this : 

 the ant comes up to the aphid and pats it on the back 

 with her antennae, at which the flattered and pleased 

 aphid gives forth the honey dew from the alimentary 

 canal, which the ant eats with every sign of enjoyment. 

 It might seem at first glance that the benefits of this 



