The honey which the rotunds, as McCook calls them, receive from the workers is gathered at night, and is obtained almost entirely from the galls of oak trees, which, when pierced by the ant’s mandibles, exude a white transparent liquid in minute globules. This is greedily licked up by the ants and distributed by them after the return home, not only to the rotunds, but to such of their fellow-workers as may not have taken part in the expedition.[83] The honey thus obtained is pleasant to ant and human taste alike, and the Indians of New Mexico, as no doubt elsewhere, obtain it by the simple process of squeezing the insect—breaking the honey-jar, as one may say. They also make from it a fermented liquor having intoxicating powers, so that one need not wonder that the idea of farming the honey-ant, like the honey-bee, has been seriously discussed in the United States. McCook, however, has pointed out that “the limited quantity of the product would prevent a profitable industry,” and he adds: “Besides, the sentiment against the use of honey thus taken from living insects, which is worthy of all respect, would not be overcome.”[83] Personally I think it would be overcome, and pretty quickly, too, as are most other sentiments that stand in the way of pleasure or profit. Women would get it under first, as in the case of birds, seals, etc., and the world would soon follow, with “woman’s influence” upon its lips. But let me not be unjust. I do not believe in sentiment as a working force in the case at all. If the ants are not to be squeezed it will be on commercial considerations.