66 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1/8) 



at first in the shape of labourers, but white as snow. These buildings are ex- 

 ceedingly compact, and divided into many very small irregular-shaped chambers, 

 not one of which is to be found of half an inch in width. They are placed all 

 round the royal apartments, and as near as possible to them. 



When the nest is in the infant state, the nurseries are close to the royal 

 chamber; but as in process of time the queen enlarges, it is necessary to enlarge 

 the chamber for her accommodation ; and as she then lays a greater number of 

 eggs, and requires a greater number of attendants, so it is necessary to enlarge 

 and increase the number of the adjacent apartments; for which purpose the 

 small nurseries which are first built are taken to pieces, rebuilt a little farther ofF 

 a size larger, and the number of them increased at the same time. Thus they 

 continually enlarge their apartments, pull down, repair, or rebuild, according to 

 their wants, with a degree of sagacity, regularity, and foresight, not even imi- 

 tated by any other kind of animals or insects yet heard of. 



There is one remarkable circumstance attending the nurseries. They are 

 always slightly overgrown with mould, and plentifully sprinkled with small white 

 globules about the size of a small pin's head. These at first Mr. S. took to be 

 the eggs; but, on bringing them to the microscope, they evidently appeared to 

 be a species of mushroom, in shape like our eatable mushroom in the young 

 state in which it is pickled. They appear, when whole, white like snow a little 

 thawed and then frozen again, and when bruised seem composed of an infinite 

 number of pellucid particles, approaching to oval forms and difficult to separate; 

 the mouldiness seems likewise to be the same kind of substance. The nurseries 

 are inclosed in chambers of clay, like those which contain the provisions, but 

 much larger. In the early state of the nest they are not larger than a hazel- 

 nut, but in great hills are often as large as a child's head of a year old. 



The disposition of the interior parts of these hills is pretty much alike, except 

 when some insurmountable obstacle prevents; for instance, when the king and 

 queen have been first lodged near the foot of a rock or of a tree, they are cer- 

 tainly built out of the usual form, otherwise pretty nearly according to the fol- 

 lowing plan. The royal chamber is situated at about a level with the surface of 

 the ground, at an equal distance from all the sides of the building, and directly 

 under the apex of the hill. It is on all sides, both above and below, surrounded 

 by what Mr. S. calls the royal apartments, which have only labourers and sol- 

 diers in them, and can be intended for no other purpose than for these to wait 

 in, either to guard or serve their common father and mother, on whose safety 

 depends the happiness, and, according to the negroes, even the existence of the 

 whole community. 



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 ma- 



