THE ANT. 235 



Royal apartments. 



ployed in pulling down, repairing, or rebuilding 

 their apartments; and these operations they per- 

 form with wonderful sagacity, regularity, and 

 foresight. The nurseries are inclosed in cham- 

 bers of clay, like those which contain the provi- 

 sions; but they are much larger. In the early 

 state of the nest, they are not bigger than a hazel 

 nut, but, in great hills, they are often four or 

 five inches across. 



The royal chamber is surrounded on all side?, 

 both above and below, by the royal apartment?, 

 (so called by our author) which contain only la- 

 bourers and soldiers, that can be intended for no 

 other purpose than to continue in the nest either 

 to guard or serve their common parents, on 

 whose safety the happiness, and probably the 

 existence, of the whole community depend. 

 These apartments compose an intricate labyrinth, 

 which extends a foot or more in diameter from 

 the royal chamber on every side. Here the 

 nurseries and magazines of provisions begin ; 

 and, being separated by small empty cham- 

 bers and galleries, which surround them, and 

 communicate with each other, are continued on 

 all sides to the outward shell, and reach up within 

 two thirds or three fourths of its height, leaving 

 an open area in the middle under the dome, 

 which resembles the nave of an old gothic cathe- 

 dral. This area is surrounded by large gothic 

 arches, which are sometimes two or three feet 

 high next to the front of the area, but diminish 



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