120 CONVERSATIONS ON 



CONVERSATION X. 



Uncle Philip tells the Children more about the 



White Ants. 



" Now, boys, as I have told you about the 

 kinds of different work which these ants do, 

 we will go on, and I will tell you about the 

 inside of the city. The first thing to be done 

 is to build a house for the king and queen. 

 This is the first house built in the city, and 

 always stands in the centre, directly under 

 the point of the roof or top of the outside wall. 

 It is built nearly on a level with the 'ground, 

 and is shaped very much like a long oven, or 

 the half of an egg split through the long way. 

 The floor is exactly level, and about an inch 

 thick ; the roof is about the same thickness. 

 The doors are on a level with the floor, and 

 just large enough to let one of the labourers 

 go in." 



" Why, Uncle Philip, how do the king and 

 queen ever get out then." 



