1849.] / 215 



carry in their mouths a mass of mortar half as Lig as their bodies, leadytemppred, 

 made of the finer parts of gravel, which, worked up to a proper consistence, 

 hardens to a substance re.-?f;'iA/t«^ 5/o«r, of which their nests are constructed.'' 

 The amount each insect carries at a time, is so small as to be hardly perceptible 

 to the naked eye. When the work is done, it presents a minutely granulated 

 appearance, like that of the "nurseries." Nor is it already "/cM^j^rf^," ready 

 to be laid. The insect, when it arrives at the place of deposit, stops for an 

 instant, and retaining his hold on the piece of clay, undergoes a slight tremulous 

 movement, more perhaps like the spasmodic action of vomiting, when a fluid 

 being seen tn be ea-cretel from the rnoitik over it, the clay is deposited. This cor- 

 rects the supposition of imeathman, that the cementing medium was gum obtained 

 from the trees on which they preyed. The outer surface of the work, when 

 recent, presents a red, moist, granuhited appearance, but when acted on by the 

 sun and atmosphere, it appi caches a dull white, or yellow, and is highly indurated, 

 more so than simple clay dried in the sun can be. It, however, falls far short of 

 the hardness of stone ; as the hill is penetrated, the clay becomes softer until the 

 interior is found to be so plastic that it can bemade into balls under the pressure 

 of the hand. The young of this order are seen of all sizes : the nT/mjihsE oi La- 

 treille differing from the others apparently in no respect, but that of their rudi- 

 mentary wings. 



Soldiers — Of this order, there seems to be ground for two divisions also, larger 

 and smaller. 



When a breach isjmade in the hill, the smaller soldiers are seen with the labor- 

 ers in small numbers, and retreat with them to the interior. Then appear the 

 larger soldiers, whose duty especially it is to defend the community. Their con- 

 duct, ferocious aspect, &c., have been well described by Smeathman, and need 

 not be here repeated, It has been said, however, whether by Mr. S. or not, I 

 cannot state, that in the act of biting, " they never quit their hold even though 

 they are pulled limb from limb," (Kirby and Spence, Introduct., vol. 2, p. 40.) 



This assertion has been correctly made of the Driver ants of Africa, ( Anomma 

 arcens and A. rubella,) but cannot be of the Termes fatalis. It is the habit of 

 this insect to let go immediately after biting, and strike as fiercely at another 

 place, doing this several times in quick succession. The manner in which its 

 jaws operate, will not admit of a continued hold. Like scissors, (unlike the man- 

 dibles of the Anomma,) they cross each other, separating the fibres by a clear cut 

 through. 



In about fifteen minutes after the attack of the enemy, the work of reparation 

 begins by the laborers, who accompanied by a few of the smaller soldiers, and 

 occasionally a larger, appear in great numbers. In view of the duty performed 

 by these two orders.it is a surprising factthat both males and females are without 

 eyes. 



These, at particular seasons, leave the hills in vast numbers. " The rains " 

 as they are familiarly termed in Africa, begin in May, sooner or later, and continue 

 with some intermissions, until October. During the month of July, and sometimes 

 extending into August, an intermission takes place under the name of " middle 

 dries," dividing them into " early and latter rains." At the beo-inninf of these 

 seasons — " early and latter rains," — the Termes swarm (if it may be so called ) 

 in incalculable numbers. At their exit, so rapid is their ascent, that they present 

 {he appearance of smoke rising from all parts of the hill. The holes throuo-h 



