The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

RELATIONS OR ORGANISMS. 197in by three ants, one of whom, however,did comparatively little. The other two wereimprisoned, and then, but not till then, a freshant appeared on the scene. She carried in thefood for a week, and then she being imprisoned,two others undertook the task." *One consideration more bearing upon obtainingsupplies deserves to be recorded asaltogether singular. Some species of antswatch over a distinct order of insects, theaphides, which exude a sweet fluid, using themexactly as we do cows for obtaining suppliesof milk. The ant comes up to the aphis,gently strokes it with her feelers, forthwiththe aphis gives forth its supply of honey, whichthe ant drinks up and departs. The factswere observed by Pierre Huber, and verifiedby Mr. Darwin. This verification was so interesting,that I give the narrative in a slightlycondensed form. Mr. Darwin says,-" I removedall the ants from a group of about adozen aphides on a dock-plant, and preventedtheir attendance during several hours." Mr.Darwin tried in vain by stroking the aphideswith a hair, in imitation of the play of the feelersof the ants, to induce them to give up the* Scientijk Lectures, p. 135.