318 Insect Architecture. 



tinually on the surface of the ground, on the watch for them. 

 As soon as they discover the objects of their search, they 

 begin to protect them from their surrounding enemies, by 

 inclosing them in a small chamber of clay, where they 

 become the pareots of a new community, and are distin- 

 guished from the other inhabitants of the nest by the title of 

 king and queen. Instinct directs the attention of these 

 labouring insects to the preservation of their race, in the 

 protection of this pair and their offspring. The chamber 

 that forms the rudiment of a new nest is contrived for their 

 safety, but the entrances to it are too small to admit of their 

 ever leaving it ; consequently, the charge of the eggs de- 

 volves upon the labourers, who construct nurseries for their 

 reception. These are small, irregularly-shaped chambers, 

 placed at first round the apartment of the king and queen, 

 and not exceeding the size of a hazel-nut ; but in nests of 

 long standing they are of great comparative magnitude, and 

 distributed at a greater distance. The receptacles for hatch- 

 ing the young are all composed of wooden materials, appa- 

 rently joined together with gum, and, by way of defence, 

 cased with clay. The chamber that contains the king and 

 queen is nearly on a level with the surface of the ground ; 

 and as the other apartments are formed about it, it is gene- 

 rally 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 intricate 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 shells, 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 behind them. 



Every one of these buildings consists of two distinct parts, 



