332 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



rushing out to defend their citadel, which they do 

 with indescribable fury. Apparently they can only 

 direct their movements by feeling, though they do not 

 spend much time in deliberating, but bite fiercely at 

 every thing within their reach, and in their haste they 

 frequently lose their footing and tumble down hill. 

 In biting they frequently strike their forceps upon the 

 wall, which makes a crackling noise somewhat shriller 

 and quicker than the ticking of a watch, and this, 

 which may be heard at the distance of several feet, 

 the labourers within seem to understand, as they reply 

 to it with a kind of hissing. ' I one day,' says Smith, 

 * 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.' Others have had 

 more courage than Smith to renew their attack, in 

 which case the bustle and fury increase in a tenfold 

 degree. If, in their rage, they come in contact with 

 the hands or legs of their assailant, they make their 

 mandibles meet through the skin at every stroke, and 

 inflict considerable pain, while the blood from one of 

 their wounds will stain the stocking to more than an 

 inch in width. They never quit their hold, but will 

 suffer themselves to be pulled limb from limb, without 

 making any attempt to escape. 



' If, on the other hand,' says Smeathman, ^ you 

 cease to batter, in half an hour they retire into the 

 nest, as if they supposed the wonderful monster that 

 had battered their castle to be beyond their reach. 

 The labourers, who had fled on the first alarm, are 

 now seen hastening to repair the breach, every one 

 with a burthen of ready-tempered mortar in its 

 mouth. This they stick on to the breach with such 

 wonderful celerity and order, that although thou- 



