346 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



building, one of these conies out to reconnoitre ; he then retires and gives 

 the alarm. Two or three others next appear, scrambling as fast as they 

 can one after the other ; — to these succeed a large body, who rush forth 

 with as much speed as the breach will permit, their number continually 

 increasing during the attack. It is not easy to describe the rage and fury 

 by which these diminutive heroes seem actuated. In their haste they fre- 

 quently miss their hold, and tumble down the sides of their hill : they soon, 

 however, recover themselves, and, being blind, bite every thing they run 

 against. If the attack proceeds, the bustle and agitation increase to a ten- 

 fold degree, and their fury is raised to its highest pitch. Wo to him whose 

 hands or legs they can come at ! for they will make their fanged jaws meet 

 at the very first stroke, drawing as much blood as will counterpoise their 

 whole body, and never quitting their hold, even though they are pulled 

 limb from limb. The naked legs of the Negroes expose them frequently 

 to this injury ; and the stockings of the European are not sufficient to 

 defend him. 



On the other hand, if, after the first attack, you get a little out of the 

 way, giving them no further interruption, supposing the assailant of their 

 citadel is gone beyond their reach, in less than half an hour they will retire 

 into the nest ; and before they have all entered, you will see the laborers 

 in motion, hastening in various directions towards the breach, every one 

 carrying in his mouth a mass of mortar half as big as his body', ready 

 tempered : — this mortar is made of the finer parts of the gravel, which 

 they probably select in the subterranean pits or passages before described, 

 which, worked up to a proper consistence, hardens to the solid substance 

 resembling stone, of which their nests are constructed. As fast as they 

 come up, each sticks its burden upon the breach ; and this is done with so 

 much regularity and despatch, that although thousands, nay millions, are 

 employed, they never appear to embarrass or interrupt one another. By 

 the united labors of such an infinite host of creatures the wall soon rises, 

 and the breach is repaired. 



While the laborers are thus employed, almost all the soldiers have 

 retired quite out of sight, except here and there one, who saunters about 

 amongst them, but never assists in the work. One in particular places 

 himself close to the wall which they are building ; and turning himself 

 leisurely on all sides, as if to survey the proceedings, appears to act the 

 part of an overseer of the works. Every now and then, at the interval 

 of a minute or two, by lifting up his head and striking with his forceps 

 upon the wall of the nest, he makes a particular noise, which is answered 

 by a loud hiss from all the laborers, and appears to be a signal for despatch ; 

 for, every time it is heard, they may be seen to redouble their pace, and 

 apply to their work with increased diligence. Renew the attack, and this 

 amusing scene will be repeated : — in rush the laborers, all disappearing in 

 a few seconds, and out march the military as numerous and vindictive as 

 before. When all is once more quiet, the busy laborers re-appear, and 

 resume their work, and the soldiers vanish. Repeat the experiment a 

 hundred times, and the same will always be the result ; — you will never 



* The anonymous author before alluded to, who observed the Ceylon white ants, says, 

 that such was the size of the masses, which were tempered with a strong gluten, that they 

 adhered though laid on the upper part of the breach. 



