CHAP. X WHITE ANTS OF BRAZIL. 301 



ground ; and as many more are drowned in such ponds 

 of water as happen to be near. The wings are so 

 slightly affixed to the body, that they fall off, almost at 

 the slightest touch, so much so, that we could scarcely 

 collect a dozen specimens in a perfect state : the sun 

 immediately makes them shrivel, and on this account 

 the insects never emerge from the nest but on a rainy 

 or very cloudy day. Thus far we can speak as an 

 eye-witness : we must now return to Mr. Smeathman's 

 narrative. The next morning, and even the latter 

 part of the same day, those that have escaped their 

 numerous enemies, deprived of their wings, crawl for 

 shelter into the nearest retreat ; but here, again, they 

 encounter a fresh host of enemies, in the numerous ants 

 which swarm in all parts of tropical countries. It 

 should be observed, however, that so soon as the white 

 ants fall upon the ground, by the loss of some of their 

 wings, " they are seen running about, with the rest 

 dangling upon them, the male after the female : some- 

 times two are seen chasing one, each contending with 

 great eagerness, regardless of the innumerable dangers 

 that surround them, who shall win the prize/' * This 

 fact we have not witnessed. So sweeping is the de- 

 struction, that not one pair in many thousands escape 

 death. If, by chance, the labourers happen to meet 

 with one of these, they treat them with their customary 

 respect and homage ; and, conveying them to a place of 

 safety, they are elected sovereigns of a new community. 

 This done, their new subjects begin to build them a 

 small chamber of clay, the entrance of which is just 

 sufficient to admit themselves and the neuters, but 

 much too small for the royal pair to pass through ; 

 this chamber, in fact, becomes their palace, their prison, 

 and probably their grave, for beyond its walls they 

 never again emerge. 



(308.) The colony being now established, the female 

 begins her office, and soon furnishes it with a large 

 population: as her size gradually increases, the la- 



* Int. to Ent. vol. ii. p. 35. 



