256 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



guislied from the other inhabitants of the nest, by the title 

 of king and queen. Instinct directs the attention of these 

 labouring insects to the preservation of their race, in the 

 protection of this pair and their offspring. The chamber 

 that forms the rudiment of a new nest is contrived for 

 their safety, but the entrances to it are too small to admit 

 of their ever leaving it ; consequently, the charge of the 

 eggs devolves upon the labourers, who construct nurseries 

 for their reception. These are small, irregularly-shaped 

 chambers, placed at first round the apartment of the king 

 and queen, and not exceeding the size of a hazel-nut ; but 

 in nests of long standing they are of great comparative 

 magnitude, and distributed at a greater distance. The re- 

 ceptacles for hatching the young are all composed of 

 wooden materials, apparently joined together with gum, 

 and, by way of defence, cased with clay. The chamber 

 that contains the king and queen is nearly on a level 

 with the surface of the ground ; and as the other apart- 

 ments are formed about it, it is generally situated at an 

 equal distance from the sides of the nest, and directly 

 beneath its conical point. Those apartments which consist 

 of nurseries and magazines of provisions, form an intricate 

 labyrinth, being separated by small, empty chambers and 

 galleries, which surround them, or afford a communication 

 from one to another. This labyrinth extends on all sides 

 to the outward shells, and reaches up within it to two- 

 thirds or more of its height, leaving an open area above, 

 in the middle, under the dome, which reminds the spec- 

 tator of the nave of an old cathedral. Around this are 

 raised three or four large arches, which are sometimes two 

 or three feet high, next the front of the area, but diminish 

 as they recede further back, and are lost amidst the 

 innumerable chambers and nurseries behind them. 



Eveiy one of these buildings consists of two distinct 

 parts, the exterior and the interior. The exterior is one 

 large shell, in the manner of a dome, large and strong 

 enough to inclose and shelter the interior from the vicis- 

 situdes of the weather, and the inhabitants from the attacks 

 of natural or accidental enemies. It is always, therefore. 



