40 APARTMENTS OF THE NEST. 



ground ; and, as the other apartments are formed 

 from 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 intri- 

 cate 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 shell, 

 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 spectator 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 be- 

 hind them. The mechanical skill displayed in the 

 contrivance of these chambers and passages, they 

 being all arched so as to give support to each other, 

 with the form of the hollow dome, adapted to collect 

 a genial warmth for the tender young, which passes 

 to the nurseries through openings suited to the pur- 

 pose, must be attributed to instinct ; for the termites 

 are not endowed with any faculties superior to other 

 insects, if required to act out of that line marked for 

 them by Providence. In constructing their habita- 



