WHITE ANTS, 61 



nary gums. These magazines are intermixed with the 

 nurseries, which are totally different from the rest of the 

 apartments ; for these are composed entirely of wooden 

 materials, seemingly joined together with gums. They are 

 called nurseries, because they are invariably occupied by 

 the eggs and young ones ; the latter appear at first in the 

 shape of labourers, but white as snow. These nurseries are 

 exceedingly compact, and divided into very small irregu- 

 larly-shaped chambers, not one of which is to be found 

 half an inch in width. They are placed all round the royal 

 apartments, and as near as possible to them. When the 

 nest is in the infant state, the nurseries are close to the 

 royal chamber ; but as in process of time the queen en- 

 larges, it is necessary to enlarge this chamber also for her 

 accommodation ; and as she then lays a greater number of 

 eggs, and requires a greater number of attendants, so is it 

 necessary to enlarge and increase the number of the adja- 

 cent apartments ; for which purpose the small nurseries that 

 are first built are taken to pieces, rebuilt a little farther off, 

 and a size larger, their number being at the same time in- 

 creased. The nurseries are always found slightly overgrown 

 with mould, and plentifully sprinkled with white globules, 

 about the size of a small pin's head. These may at first be 

 mistaken for eggs ; but on being examined under a micro- 

 scope, they evidently appear to be a species of fungus, in 

 shape like our edible mushroom in the young state in which 

 it is pickled. They appear, when whole, white like snow 

 a little thawed and then frozen again, and when bruised, 

 seem composed of an infinite number of pellucid particles, 

 approaching to oval forms, and difficult to separate ; the 

 mouldiness seems likely to be the same kind of substance. 

 The nurseries are enclosed in chambers of clay, like those 

 which contain the provisions, but much larger. In the 

 early state of the nest they are not larger than a hazel nut, 



