CH. VIII.] THE WHITE AXT. 159 



covered by their arched galleries, they give the 

 alarm by loud hissings, which we hear distinctly at 

 every step we make. Soon afterward it is vain to 

 examine the galleries for these insects ; little holes 

 are found just large enough for them to escape 

 through. 



Smith, in talking of a species of termes,says, "I 

 one day attempted to knock off the top of one of 

 the hills with my cane, but the stroke had no other 

 effect than to bring thousands of the insects out of 

 doors to see what was the matter ; upon which I 

 took to my heels, and ran away as fast as I could." 

 "The first object which strikes one upon opening 

 their hills," says Smeathman, " is the behaviour of 

 their soldiers. If you make a breach, in a few se- 

 conds a soldier will run out, and walk about as if to 

 reconnoitre. It will sometimes go in as if to give 

 the alarm, but most frequently may be followed by 

 two or three others, who run straggling after one 

 another; and to them succeed a large body, who 

 rush out as fast as the breach will permit them ; 

 and the number increases as long as any one con- 

 tinues battering the building. It is not easy to de- 

 scribe the rage and fury they show. In their hurry 

 they frequently miss their hold, and tumble down 

 the sides of the hill, but recover themselves as 

 quickly as possible, and, being blind, bite every 

 thing they run against, thus making a crackling 

 noise, while some beat repeatedly with their forceps 

 upon the building, and make a small vibrating noise 

 something shriller and quicker than the ticking of a 

 watch — it can be heard at three or four feet dis- 

 tance. They make their hooked jaws meet at 

 every bite ; and if it should be the leg of a man, a 

 spot of blood, extending an inch on the stocking, 

 follows the wound. Nothing can tear them away, 

 but they must be taken oft* piecemeal. If, on the 

 other hand, you cease to batter, in half an hour they 

 retire into the nest, as if they supposed the won- 



