Brazilian Ants. 



525 



Those animals to which I refer belong all to the division of which 

 Linne formed his great family of Cicada, and which agrees with 

 Latreilles' family, Cicadelles. These animals, especially the species 

 of genus Cercopis and Membracis, assume in their cocoon and cater- 

 pillar state, a mode of life which has many points in common with 

 the leaflies. They are found in numerous societies, clustered toge- 

 ther below the leaves, and round the young sprouts of plants, on 

 which part they cause the same monstrous protuberances which are 

 produced by the sting of the leaflies. The sap which exudes from 

 this, assumes a sweetish flavour, occasioned by some change effected 

 in the bark by means of the clear liquor, which exudes from the hind 

 part of the leaflies. 



It is on account of this moisture, of which the ants are very 

 greedy, that they frequent the society of these animals, which they 

 treat as our ants treat the leaflies ; caressing them on the side of the 

 body with their antennae or hand, which caresses expel a liquor, 

 which is immediately swallowed by the ant. I must, however, observe, 

 that while in Europe most species of ants hold communication with 

 the leaflies, I have only found in Brazils one species, which seeks the 

 society of the Cicadelles (Dolichoderus attelabcedes, M.) This species 

 seems to obtain its whole nourishment from these animals ; at least I 

 have never seen it seek any other, and one sees it bestow extreme 

 care on these animals. 



I have no doubt, that the list of the domestic animals of the ants 

 will be considerably increased, when we understand better the 

 domestic ceconomy of these animals in the great regions of the 

 earth yet unknown to us. I have even reason to believe, that the 

 ants do not limit their choice in this respect to the insect class alone. 

 I have found a species of ant which on account of its blindness I call 

 Myrmica typhlops, which convey living Onisci to their nest, and the 

 sight of such a burden is highly amusing. The Oniscus hangs under 

 the belly of the ant, to which it clings with its claws, but its body 

 being much broader than the ant's, this last is obliged to stride over 

 it when it runs, which gives its walk a very curious appearance. 



But to what qualifications these animals owe the honor of be- 

 ing enrolled amongst the ant's domesticated animals, is unknown 

 to me. 



