6S 
drones which are hairy, and variegated with two or three 
colours, who gain their living by the same trade. Keep 
myself always on my guard against their stings, I have 
obliged them to surrender the liquor which they had just: 
collected and swallowed. The large drop which came ot 
of the mouth, and which I sucked from the animal itse 
was of clear transparent yellow, and appeared to me o 
same quality as the ordinary honey-dew, the taste of | 
was familiar to me.* i ae 3 
Ihave observed two species of these pucerons, which liv 
without shelter, on the bark of young branches. They ar 
naked and without wings. I speak of the females, whic 
form the mass of the population, and are the only ones that 
work at honey making. Each family has, besides, two or — 
three males, with wings, in their suite. These are usel 
mouths, which live on the labours of their companions. At 
least, | have always seen them moving about carelessly, 
over the backs of the female troop, without troubling them 
_ Selves as they (the females) do, with sucking the bark. _ 
Both kinds live in society, and inhabit in little balls or 
pellets, on different parts of the same tree. These bugs 
Keep themselves crowded together, all round the branch, th 
bark of which they entirely conceal. And, it is remarkable 
that their attitude is apparently very incommodious; but 
every kind of animal has its own usage or custom, and the 
usage of these insects is to crowd together as closely as they 
can, tail up and head down. It is to be presumed there are — 
reasons for their doing so, which I shall presently develop. — 
We will observe, in the mean time, that the smaller of the | 
two species of insects partake of the colour of the bark on — 
which they live, and which is most commonly greenish. — 
They are, moreover, distinguished by two horns, or two 
small fleshy threads, strait and immoveable, which rise per- 
pendicularly from the lateral and inferior parts of the ab- 
domen, one on each side. It is this species which lives on — 
the top of the bramble, the elder, and young apple trees. 
The other species, more than twice the size, is what I 
have principally in view, because they distill the honey 
Ag SR 
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ee ak. ee a 
* In my observations, which I give in the next chapter, it will be 
seen that [am not entirely of opinion with M. Boissier, on the quality 
of that excrementous honey, dejected by the pucerons. It is not yet 
honey, nor will it become so, till after it has been elaborated in the sto- 
mach of the bee.—2uthor. Ned 
