176 



THE UNIVERSE. 



gives them the look of a colossal sugar-loaf enlarged at the 

 base, and with the flanks broken by little accessory hillocks. 

 When one traverses a part where the colonies of Termites 

 abound, one might take them at a distance for an Indian 

 village. The walls of these dwellings are so solid that the 

 wild cattle climb upon them without crushing them, when 

 they place themselves there as sentinels ; and the interior 

 contains chambers so large that a dozen men can find 

 shelter in some of them; the hunters place themselves in 

 them to lie in wait for wild animals. 





89. Warrior Termites (Tonnes bellicosus, Smeath. ; Termes fataUs, Linn.)- Soldier, Work- 

 man, Male, and Female swollen with Eggs. 



Besides these extraordinary chambers, we find also in th<3 

 cities of these social republics long galleries as wide as the 



