GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND SKETCHES AFIELD 275 



to show this insect in the act of feeding among the tiny florets 

 adorning the central disc of the flower. It is but one of a 

 number of guests of the black-eyed 

 susan. Another frequenter is 

 the green-bodied bee, which 

 cannot fail to exclLe admi- 

 ration as it dips into the 

 blossom, rolling its body 

 in yellow pollen, and be 

 smearing its legs until 

 the golden , ^-^ 



hue of the 

 pollen con- 

 trasts with the 

 metallic green of 

 its body. Among 

 the numerous daisies 

 one finds plants which 

 have the appearance 

 of being speckled over 

 the underside of the 

 leaves with minute 

 brownish objects. 

 These, as the drawings 

 show, are ant-cows, but 

 they bear no resemblance 

 to the ordinary plant hce 

 belonging to the Aphididte. 

 They are classed among the 

 grotesque tree hopper family 

 the present species being known 

 as Publilia concava. So solicitous 

 are the attending ants regarding the 

 welfare of these numerous small lar^'al 

 insects that they will rush to their 

 rescue when the slightest danger threatens. 



If the plants are rustled and one watches closely, the ants 

 may be seen tenderly picking up these tree hoppers in their 

 mandibles and carrying them to a point of safety. On arriving 



The Black-eyed Susan with 

 its insect guests. 



