412 THE INSECT WOULD. 



easy prey to their enemies. A few couples only, picked up by the 

 workers, are put under shelter, and become the nucleus of a new 

 colony. The soldiers have no other occupation but to defend the 

 nest. If man attacks them, at the first blow with the pickaxe, 

 they are to be seen running out furiously. They attack their 

 aggressors, pierce them till they bring blood, and with their sharp 

 pincers hang on to the wound, and allow themselves to be torn to 

 pieces rather than leave go their hold. The negroes who have no 

 clothes are soon put to flight ; Europeans only get off with 

 their trousers very much spotted with blood. During the 

 combat, the soldiers strike from time to time on the ground with 

 their pincers, and produce a little dry sound, to which the 

 workers answer by a sort of whistling. The workers immediately 

 make their appearance ; and with their pellets of mortar set to 

 work to stop up the holes, and to repair the damage. The sol- 

 diers then re-enter, with the exception of a small number, who 

 remain to superintend the work of the masons ; they give, at 

 intervals, the usual signal, and the workers answer by a whistling 

 which means " Here we are ! " as they redouble their activity. If 

 the attack recommences, the soldiers are at their posts, defending 

 the ground inch by inch. During this time the workers mask the 

 passages, stop up the galleries, and wall up with care the royal 

 cell. If you manage to penetrate as far as this sanctuary, you 

 may pick up and carry away from the cell which contains them 

 the precious couple without the workers in attendance on them 

 interrupting their work, for they are blind. 



They never venture in sight except in extreme cases. No one 

 is ignorant of the terrible destruction these insects occasion to 

 the works of man. Invisible to those whom they threaten, they 

 push on their galleries to the very walls of their houses. They 

 perforate the floors, the beams, the wood-work, the furniture, 

 respecting always the surface of the objects attacked in such a 

 manner that it is impossible to be aware of their hidden ravages. 

 They even take care to prevent the buildings they eat away from 

 falling by filling up with mortar the parts they have hollowed 

 out. But these precautions are only employed if the place seems 

 suitable, and if they intend to prolong their sojourn there. 

 In the other case, they destroy the wood with inconceivable 



