444 
TERMES. 
forceps upon the building, and make a small 
vibrating nois(?, something shriller and quicker 
than the ticking of a watch: I could distinguish 
this noise at three or four feet distance, and it 
continued for a minute at a time, with short inter- 
vals. While the attack proceeds they are in the 
most violent bustle and agitation. If they get 
hold of any one, they will in an instant let out 
blood enough to weigh against their whole body; 
and if it is the leg they Avound, you wall see the 
stain upon the stocking extend an inch in wddth. 
They make their hooked jaws meet at the first 
stroke, and never quit their hold, but suffer them- 
selves to be pulled away leg by leg, and piece 
after piece, w ithout the least attempt to escape. 
On the other hand, keep out of their way, and 
give them no interruption, and tliey will in less 
than half an hour retire into the nest, as if they 
supposed the wmnderfiil monster that damaged 
their castle to be gone beyond their reach. Be- 
fore they are all got in you will see the labourers 
in motion, and hastening in various directions to- 
ward the breach: every one with a Inirthen of 
mortar in his mouth ready tempered. This they 
stick upon the breach as fast as thqy come up, 
and do it with so much dispatch and facility, that 
although there are thousands, and I may say 
millions, of them, they never stop or embarrass 
one another ; and you are most agreeably de- 
ceived when, after an apparent scene of hurry and 
confusion, a regular w/all arises, gradually filling 
up the chasm. While they are thus employed. 
