196 



of Jlatural ffi 



"Their mode of biting differs from that of 

 the soldiers among the Termes The mandi- 

 bles of the latter are flat and sharp, and 

 move in a cross direction, cutting in the 

 manner of scissors. The mandibles of the 

 Driver of the first class are very prominent 

 and formidable, strongly hooked, having 

 one tooth ; those of the second classes are 

 flatter, sharper, and armed with two strong 

 teeth, the edges finely serrated, and admi- 

 rably calculated tor lacerating and cutting 

 muscular fibre. The onset of the former is 

 with a grasp that causes their victim to 

 start and wince as if life were in danger ; 

 their mandibles are fixed so strongly into 

 the flesh, and their hold retained with such 

 pertinacity, that a separation is effected often 

 only by a dismemberment of the body. If 

 permitted to retain their hold, the motion of 

 their jaws is alternately from one side to 

 to the other, penetrating deeper and deeper 

 at every stroke. With the second class 

 there is not only this gradual penetration, 

 but at the same time lacerating and cutting 

 of the flesh, with an approximation of the 

 jaws at each effort. This difference in the 

 form and motion in the two classes led me 

 to infer a difference of duties or office in their 

 economy. This impression has been con- 

 firmed by repeated observations. To the 

 first class, it would appear, is assigned the 

 defence of the community ; it is theirs also 

 to attack and disable their prey. The 

 second lacerate and cut the flesh, and are 

 assisted by the first in tearing it off. Upon 

 the third, who appear to be especially the 

 labourers, devolves the burthen of trans- 

 portation, whether of prey or pupas. They 

 are seen to be assisted often by the second 

 class, and, when the prey is too large for 

 either, the first is called in. 



They carry their pupse and prey longitu- 

 dinally under their bodies, held firmly be- 

 tween their mandibles and legs, the latter 

 of which are admirably calculated by their 

 length and slenderness for this purpose ; and 

 the freedom and ease with which they carry 

 their burthen is truly surprising When- 

 ever a stream of water intercepts their 

 course in their excursions and migrations, if 

 it should not be extensive they compass it, 

 but if otherwise, they make a line or chain 

 of one another, gradually extending them- 

 selves by numbers across, till a connection 

 is formed with the opposite side, and thus a 

 bridge is constructed, over which the main 

 body passes in safety. Their tenacity of 

 life appears to be truly extraordinary. This 

 was evinced by a series of experiments. An 

 individual of the largest class was submerged 

 to the bottom of a glass of water, where it 

 struggled for about three quarters of an 

 hour, and then apparently expired ; but it 

 revived in about ten minutes after it was 

 taken out, exhibiting about as much vitality 

 and ferocity as before. It was re-submerged 

 for five hours, with like results. It was 

 submerged the third time, and kept under 

 water for twelve hours. When taken out 

 it revived, and continued to exhibit signs of 

 life for about twelve hours more, and then 

 expired. Various other experiments were 

 tried. The head of one of the largest class, 



when dissevered from the body, grasped the 

 finger of an attendant so furiously as to 

 cause an immediate flow of blood ; another 

 decapitated head retained its power of biting 

 so as to draw blood, precisely in the manner 

 of the insect in possession of all its parts and 

 powers, twenty- four hours after decapita- 

 tion ; while the body to which it belonged 

 lived more than forty-eight hours ! 



" I know of no insect," says Dr. Savage, 

 " more ferocious and determined upon vic- 

 tory. They fiercely attack anything that 

 comes in their way, 'conquer or die' is their 

 motto. Yet they are not without their uses 

 in the economy of nature. They keep down 

 the more rapid increase of noxious insects 

 and smaller reptiles ; consume much dead 

 animal matter, which is constantly occur- 

 ring, decaying, becoming offensive, and thus 

 vitiating the atmosphere, and, which is by 

 no means the least important in the Torrid 

 Zone, often compelling the inhabitants to 

 keep their dwellings, towns, and their vi- 

 cinity, in a state of comparative cleanliness. 

 The dread of them is upon every living 

 thing. It may be literally said that they 

 are against everything, and everything 

 against them. I have known my dog, on 

 meeting them in the road, instead of run- 

 ning any risk by leaping over them, go a 

 great distance round to avoid their well- 

 known bite. My donkey has more than 

 once stopped so suddenly and turned, as to 

 throw me over her head, or to one side, and 

 when urged forward, leaped far over the 

 line. They will soon kill the largest ani- 

 mal if confined. They attack lizards, guana*, 

 snakes, &c., with complete success. We 

 have lost several animals by them, monkeys, 

 pigs, fowls, &c. The severity of their bite, 

 increased to great intensity by vast numbers, 

 it is impossible to conceive. We may easily 

 believe that it would prove fatal to almost 

 any animal in confinement. They have 

 been known to destroy the Python natalensis, 

 our largest serpent. When gorged with 

 prey it lies powerless for days ; then, mon- 

 ster as it is, it easily becomes their victim 

 Their entrance into a house is soon known 

 by the simultaneous and universal move- 

 ment of rats, mice, lizards. Blapsidte, Blm- 

 tidce, and of the numerous vermin that infest 

 our dwellings. They are decidedly carni- 

 vorous in their propensities. Fresh meat of 

 all kinds is their favourite food ; fresh oils 

 they also love, especially that of the Elais 

 guineiensis, either in the fruit or expressed. 

 It is not true, however, that they devour 

 every thing eatable by us in our houses ; 

 there are many articles which form an ex- 

 ception. If a heap of rubbish comes within 

 their route, they invariably explore it, when 

 larvae and insects of all orders may be seen 

 borne off in triumph, especially the 

 former." 

 DROMEDARY. [See CAMEL.] 



DROMIA. A genus of Crustacea, some- 

 what allied to Dorippe, of which there are 

 several species. The one figured (Dromia 

 vulgaris) is very common in the Mediterra- 

 nean ; its carapace is almost globular ; the 

 two posterior pairs of legs are raised above 



