THE ANT. 233 



Royal chamber Entrances Magazines. 



The royal chamber, as Mr. Smeathman calls 

 it, is always situated as near the centre of the 

 building as possible, and is generally on a level 

 with the common surface of the ground. It is 

 nearly in the shape of half an egg, or an obtuse 

 oval, within, and may be supposed to represent 

 a long oven. In the infant state of the colony, 

 it is not above an inch in length ; but in time it 

 becomes increased to six or eight inches, or 

 more, being always in proportion to the size of 

 the queen, who, increasing in bulk as in age, at 

 length requires a chamber of such dimensions. 



As the entrances into this royal chamber ad- 

 mit no animals larger than the labourers or sol- 

 diers, of course the king and queen can never 

 possibly get out. This chamber is surrounded 

 by art innumerable quantity of others, of different 

 sizes, figures, and dimensions; all of them arched 

 either in a circular or an elliptical form. These 

 chambers either open into each other, or have 

 communicating passages; which being always 

 clear, are evidently intended for the convenience 

 of the soldiers and attendants, of whom great 

 numbers are necessary. The latter apartments 

 are joined by the magazines and nurseries. 



The magazines (so called by Mr. Smeathman, 

 but which are no more than cavities) are cham- 

 bers of clay, and are at all times well stored with 

 provisions, which, to the naked eye, seem to con- 

 sist of the raspings of wood and plants; but, 

 when examined by the microscope, they are 



VOL, vi. NO. 44. 2 G 



