THE WAYS OF LIFE 219 



the Black Termite in the hollow stem of a Pandanus, and 

 was able to transport it intact to his hut, where it was 

 placed on a table. The very first night the black army 

 made a sortie, descending a table-leg, and visiting a cocoa- 

 tree about three yards off. They returned in the morning, 

 and some of them carried a little greyish yellow lichen in 

 their mouths. The next event was an invasion of the Ter- 

 mite nest by a band of true ants (Pheidologeton) whose 

 soldiers have particularly big heads. These proceeded to 

 carry oft the Termite larvae, and in spite of valiant resistance 

 would have succeeded had not M. Bugnion played the part 

 of providence. He drove away the intruders and put the 

 Termite nest in a more secure place. When night fell the 

 blind army made another sortie, the details of which were 

 interesting. The workers came out tentatively, guarded 

 by lines of soldiers ; after going a little way some turned 

 back again, as if to instruct the main body ; they got on 

 to the track of the night before, which was marked by traces 

 visible to M. Bugnion and probably smellable to the 

 Termites. But after all, the sortie was a failure ; they did 

 not find the cocoa-trees. 



The observer formed a little bridge over a deterrent 

 difficulty, and next day the cocoa-tree with its lichens 

 was covered by innumerable workers. They went about 

 their business in groups, five or six grated off the lichen 

 and passed it to a carrier, who continued to collect till he 

 had as big a packet as his mouth would hold. But the 

 return was concerted and orderly, not individual or hap- 

 hazard. It did not begin until the soldiers, who had been 

 standing all the while at attention, gave a signal. After 

 a little moving to and fro, the workers formed into line, 

 descended the tree, and made for home in two great bands. 



