154 
and the tortuous stems of Brambles, to the positions of the various tribes of 
Aphides which they seem to do with perfect ease. Having once got there, how¬ 
ever, they remain fixtures so long as the Aphides deposit their clammy sweet, 
without returning to their nests, as far as my observation goes. Even the large 
wood Ants (Formica rufa) attach themselves in bands in this singular manner 
wherever any huge Thistle has a colony of Aphides upon it; and there, per¬ 
haps, intoxicated with the luscious potion, they remain unconscious of any thing 
around them but the excitement arising from the continued drain from this living 
and ever-flowing bowl. Even when a plant thus circumstanced is gathered, the 
Ants seem very reluctant to forsake it, and unless compelled to leave, will still re¬ 
main upon it, though they are conveyed hundreds of miles from their domicile. 
It is indeed stated by entomologists that Ants keep flocks of Aphides in their nests 
for the supply of the colony, “ milking ” them regularly for the use of the inhabit¬ 
ants. That they could keep them alive under ground for any length of time, I 
should think unlikely, though certainly on one occasion I beheld an army of small 
black Ants engaged most busily in removing all the Aphides from a Raspberry 
bush in a garden, an operation which they performed with considerable celerity. 
In general, however, I think they do not remove them from the plants to which 
they are attached, nor even relieve each other to carry home the delicious spoil, 
but settle down selfishly to a long luxurious debauch. The Ant, therefore, is not 
to be considered in the light of an enemy to the Apthid , since he not only does 
him no injury, but hangs upon and literally incites him to further depredations. 
But a beautiful picture just opens by the water’s edge. Behold where that 
forest of Club-rush (Scirpus Sylvaticus) in the marsh, exhibits its delicate white 
inflorescence; there the brilliant dark green Dragon Flies (Agrion virgo) are 
fluttering their purple wings. What tints can match with the golden green of the 
male, or the splendid emerald hue of the female, as it now rests upon the stem of 
the Catdbrosa aquatica , or sparkles out in the sunbeams, contrasting with the 
rosy towering spikes of the great Bistort ? Hosts of the Agrion puella too, are 
lightly balancing their fairy forms of the purest tints of sky blue over the cool 
waters, or resting upon the opening flower of the yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) ; 
while the Lihellula depressa with its fine slate blue abdomen, is rushing by on 
rapid wing, whirling against his rival, and chasing his yellow-tailed partner far 
over field and hedge, till resting for a moment from the fond pursuit on a dry 
hedge-stick, he seems, as the sun flashes upon his corselet, to be absolutely inhaling 
and drinking up the beams of light. But still more beauteous than all flutters 
the blue-green Agrion virgo , Fab., not mounting high in air, but softly gliding 
without an effort among the rushes and equiseti of that silver willowed covert by 
the river’s brink, where the tall yellow Loosestrife is spreading out its golden co¬ 
rymbs. I love to behold them, for they come only with the established summer, and 
they sport in the most cool and delicious places, where the zephyr from the river 
