THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. . 329 



Other insects are less remarkable for their number than 

 for the order which regulates their migrations ; they act as 

 prudently as an army in the field. An intelligent leader 

 seems to direct all their movements, as may be seen in the 

 excursions of the travelling termite. When a body of these 

 insects undertakes a distant journey, they advance in a 

 straight line, and all the workers march in columns of ten 

 to fifteen individuals, as compactly as a flock of sheep. 

 During this time those termites that are armed with strong 

 mandibles, and play the part of soldiers, spread themselves 

 out like reconnoitrers on each side of the main body, in 

 order to guard it against every attack. Should a plant 

 more elevated than the others lie in the way of the emi- 

 grants, the soldiers may be seen climbing to the highest 

 leaves, and resting suspended there like so many sentries 



V 



charged with the office of watching the route. Should any 

 danger arise, these soldiers, by striking the leaves with their 

 feet, produce a clicking noise ; a signal that agitates the 

 entire army, which replies by hissing, and immediately after 

 redoubles its pace with fresh ardor. 



In juxtaposition with these emigrating insects, we ought 

 to mention those which, without executing adventurous 

 journeys, suddenly appear in compact masses, and become 

 for a time the scourge of our fields. 



One of these voracious depredators is the May-bug, so 

 common in France. In his magnificent work on the ene- 

 mies of woodland culture, M. Ratzeburg does not hesitate 

 to represent it as the most terrible destroyer of our planta- 

 tions. The annals of agriculture abound with melancholy 

 details of the ravages caused by this insect. It is some- 



