2\)2 HYMKNOPTERA. 
time, till an opportunity offers of shiiring 
it with the ants, who regularly go to so- 
licit their food at the tree, or shrub, in- 
habited by the friendly aphis. If no 
aphides happen to have established them- 
selves near the nest, the ants have been 
known to select some particular species, 
that feed on grass and roots, and to carry 
great numbers of them into their imme- 
diate neighbourhood, or even to lodge 
them in the nest, where they assign them 
particular apartments, and supply them 
with food, in order to enjoy that favourite 
beverage without stirring from home. 
Lucy, In winter you said the black 
ants become torpid ; do the brown ants 
also ? 
Mother, Yes, they do ; but not be- 
fore the cold is very severe; when the 
thermometer falls to five or six degrees 
below the freezing point, they become 
lethargic; and it is remarkable, that the 
aphis also becomes torpid at the same 
degree. 
Lucy. This is, indeed, mamma^ a 
