[65] There is little doubt, however, that some species of Aphides and allied Coccidae would be liable to extermination if not protected by their ant masters. See, for instance, Forel, _Bull. Soc. Vaud._, 1876. Mr. Cockerell in Jamaica has noted an interesting Coccid, _Icerya rosae_, which is protected by ants; "at the present moment some of these _Iceryae_ are enjoying life, which would certainly have perished at my hands but for the inconvenience presented by the numbers of stinging ants."--_Nature_, 27th April 1893. Mr. Romanes (_Nature_, 18th May 1893) quotes as follows from a letter addressed to him by the Rev. W. G. Proudfoot:--"On looking up I noticed that hundreds of large black ants were going up and down the tree, and then I saw the aphides.... But what struck me most was that the aphides showered down their excretions independently of the ants' solicitations, while at other times I noticed that an ant would approach an aphis without getting anything, and would then go to another. I was struck with this, because I remembered Mr. Darwin's inability to make the aphides yield their secretion after many experiments. A large number of hornets were flying about the tree, but seemed afraid of the ants; for when they attempted to alight, an ant would at once rush to the spot, and the hornet would get out of its way." A yellow ant, who wishes to enjoy the result of the cares given to his pensioner, approaches it and gently caresses it with his antennae; the other shows signs of pleasure at this visit, and soon a pearly drop appears on the tuft of hairs at the edge of its elytra, and this the ant hastens to lick. The beetle is thus exploited and tickled by all the members of the community to which he belongs who meet him on their road. But when it has been milked two or three times it ceases to secrete. A solicitous ant arriving at this moment finds its efforts in vain, but still behaves like a good shepherd; it shows no impatience or anger towards its exhausted beast, knowing well that it is only necessary to come back a little later or to go to another member of the herd. Nor are his cares lessened by finding the source dried up. He foresees that it will still be good after repose, and if it is hungry he disgorges food for it.