PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 335 
Unparalleled and unique in the animal kingdom as this history may 
appear, you will scarcely deem the next I have to relate Jess singular and 
less worthy of admiration. That ants should have their milch cattle is as 
extraordinary as that they should have slaves. Here, perhaps, 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 your- 
self; for you will always find the former very busy on those trees and 
plants on which the latter abound: and if you examine 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 sweetness, 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 
it, Their sucker being inserted in the tender bark, is without intermission 
employed in absorbing the sap, which, after it has passed through the 
system, they keep continually discharging by these organs. When no ants 
attend them, by a certain jerk of the body, which takes place at regular 
intervals, they ejaculate it to a distance: but when the ants are at hand, 
watching the moment when the Aphides emit their fluid, they seize and 
suck it down immediately. This, however, is the least of their talents; 
for they absolutely possess the art of making them yield it at their pleasure; 
or, in other words, of milking them. On this occasion their antenne are 
their fingers ; with these they pat the abdomen of the aphis on each side 
alternately, moving them very briskly; a little drop of fluid immediately 
appears, which the ant takes into its mouth, one species (Myrmica rubra) 
conducting it with its antenne, which are somewhat swelled at the end. 
When it has thus milked one, it proceeds to another, and so on, till being 
satiated it returns to the nest. 
But you are not arrived at the most singular part of this history, —that 
ants make a property of these cows, for the possession of which they-con- 
tend with great earnestness, and use every means to keep them to them- 
selves. Sometimes they seem to claim a right to the Aphides that inhabit 
the branches of a tree or the stalks of a plant; and if stranger ants attempt 
to share their treasure with them, they endeavour to drive them away, and 
may be seen running about in a great bustle, and exhibiting every symptom 
of inquietude and anger. Sometimes, to rescue them from their rivals, they 
take their Aphides in their mouth; they generally keep guard round them, 
and when the branch is conveniently situated, they have recourse to an 
expedient still more effectual to keep off interlopers,—they inclose it in a 
Myrmica (M. paleata) found in Brazil, whose nest contains the neuters (doubtless 
employed as slaves, though unfortunately M. Lund had not an opportunity of ob- 
serving the excursions in which the pup» they sprung from were captured) of a 
neighbouring species, MW. erythrothorax. (Lacordaire, Introd. 4 ? Entom. ii. 508.) 
| The ant ascends the tree, says Linn, that it may milk its cows, the Aphides, not 
killthem Syst. Wat. 962. Sp. 8, 
/ 
