40 PERFECT SOCIETIES 0¥ INSECTS. 



incapable of fighting, retire within, and give place to 

 another description of its inhabitants, whose office it is 

 to defend the fortress when assailed by enemies : — these, 

 as observed before, are the neuters or soldiers. If the 

 breach be made in a slight part of the building, one 

 of these comes 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 otlier; — to 

 these succeed a large body, who rush forth with as much 

 speed as the breach will permit, their numbers conti- 

 nually 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 frequently 

 miss their hold, arid 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 njeet at tlie 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 Negros expose them frequently to this in- 

 jury ; and even 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 w ill retire 

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

 will see the labourers in motion, hastening in various 



