88 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
them to love those whom in that case they would have 
abhorred.—It occasions, however, no further change in 
their character, since the master and slave, brought up 
with the same care and under the same superintendence, 
are associated in the mixed formicary, under laws en- 
tirely opposite”. 
Unparalleled and unique in the animal kingdom as — 
this history may appear, you will scarcely deem the next 
I have to relate less singular and less worthy of admira- 
tion. That ants should have their mzlch cattle is as ex- 
traordinary as that they should have slaves. Here, per- 
haps, you may again feel a fit of incredulity shake you ; 
—but the evidence for the fact I am now stating being 
abundant and satisfactory, I flatter myself it will not 
shake you long. 
The loves of the ants and the aphides (for these last 
are the kine in question) have long been celebrated ; 
and that there is a connexion between them you may at 
any time, in the proper season, convince yourself; for 
you will always find the former very busy on those trees 
and plants on which the latter abound: and if you ex- 
amine more closely, you will discover that their object 
in thus attending upon them is to obtain the saccharine 
fluid, which may well be denominated their milk», that 
they secrete. 
This fluid, which is scarcely inferior to honey in sweet- 
ness, issues in limpid drops from the abdomen of these 
insects, not only by the ordinary passage, but also by 
two setiform tubes placed, one on each side, just above 
* See Huber, chap. vii—xi. 
> The ant ascends the tree, says Linné, that it may milk its cows, 
the Aphides, not kill them. Syst. Nat. 962. 3. 
