PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 37 



able to shift for themselves. — One remarkable circum- 

 stance attends these nurseries — they are always covered 

 with a kind of mould, amongst which arise numerous 

 globules about the size of a small pin's head. This is 

 probably a species o^ Mucor-, and by Mr. Konig, who 

 found them also in nests of an East-Indian species of 

 Termes, is conjectured to be the food of the larvae. 



The royal cell has besides some soldiers in it, a kind 

 of body guard to the royal pair that inhabit it ; and the 

 surrounding apartments contain always many both la- 

 bourers and soldiers in waiting, tliat they may succes- 

 sively attend upon and defend the common father and 

 mother, on whose safety depend the happiness and 

 even existence of the whole community ; and whom 

 these faithful subjects never abandon even in the last 

 distress. 



The manner in which the Termites feed the young 

 brood, before they commence their active life and are 

 admitted to share in the labours of the nest, has not, 

 as far as I know, been recorded by any writer : I shall 

 therefore leave them in their nurseries, and introduce 

 you to the bustling scene which these creatures exlii* 

 bit in their first state after they are become useful. To 

 do this, in vain sliould I carry you to one of their nests 

 —you would scarcely see a single one stirring — though, 

 perhaps, under your feet there would be millions going 

 and returning by a thousand different ways. Unless 

 I possessed the power of Asmodeus in Le Diahle BoU 

 teux, of showing you their houses and covered ways 

 with their roofs removed, you would return home as 

 wise as you came ; for these little busy creatures are 

 tsiught by Providence always to work under cover. If 



