206 HABITATIONS OF ANIMALS. 



room when young. When entire, they are white like snow a 

 little melted and frozen again ; and when bruised, they seem 

 to be composed of an infinite number of pellucid particles, 

 approaching to oval forms, and are with difficulty separated 

 from each other. The mouldiness seems likewise to consist 

 of the same kind of substance.* 



The nurseries are inclosed in chambers of clay, like those 

 which contain the provisions ; but they are much larger. In 

 the early state of the nest, they are not bigger than a hazel- 

 nut ; but in great hills, they are often as large as a child's 

 head a year old. 



The royal chamber is situated nearly on a level with the 

 surface of the ground, at an equal distance from all the sides 

 of the building, and directly under the apex of the hill. On 

 all sides, both above and below, it is surrounded by what are 

 called the royal apartments, which contain only laborers and 

 soldiers, who can be intended for no other purpose than to 

 continue in the nest either to guard or serve their common 

 parents, on whose safety the happiness, and, in the estimation 

 of the negroes, the existence of the whole community depends. 

 These apartments compose an intricate labyrinth, which ex- 

 tends a foot or more in diameter from the royal chamber on 

 every side. Here the nurseries and magazines of provisions 

 begin ; and, being separated by small empty chambers and 

 galleries, which surround them, and communicate with each 

 other, are continued on all sides to the outward shell, and 

 reach up within it two thirds or three fourths of its height, 

 leaving an open area in the middle under the dome, which 

 resembles the nave of an old cathedral. This area is sur- 

 rounded by large Gothic arches, which are sometimes two or 

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

 as they recede, like the arches of aisles in perspectives, and 

 are soon lost among the innumerable chambers and nurseries 

 behind them. All these chambers and passages are arched, 

 and contribute mutually to support one another. The inte- 

 rior building, or assemblage of nurseries, chambers, and pas- 

 sages, has a flattish roof, without any perforation. By this 

 contrivance, if by accident water should penetrate the ex- 



* Mr. Konig, who examined the termites' nests in the East Indies, conjectures that 

 these mushrooms are the food of the young insects. This supposition implies that 

 the old ones have a method of providing for and promoting the growth of the mush- 

 room ; "a circumstance," Mr. Smeathman remarks, "which, however strange- to 

 tlKe unacquainted with the sagacity of those insects, I will venture to say, from 

 inanj other extraordinary facts I have seen of them, is not very improbable " 



