VOL. LXXI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 83 



The next step caused a repetition of the noise, which he soon recognized, and 

 was rather surprised at not seeing any covered ways or hills. The noise however 

 led him a few paces from the path, where, to his great astonishment, he saw an 

 army of termites coming out of a hole in the ground, which could not be above 

 4 or 5 inches wide. They came out in vast numbers, moving forward as fast 

 seemingly as it was possible for them to march. In less than a yard from this 

 place they divided into 2 streams or columns, composed chiefly of the first 

 order, which he calls labourers, 12 or 15 a-breast, and crouded as close after 

 each other as sheep in a drove, going straight forward without deviating to the 

 right or left. Among these, here and there, one of the soldiers was to be seen, 

 trudging along with them, in the same manner, neither stopping nor turning; 

 and as he carried his enormous large head with apparent difficulty, he put Mr. 

 S. in mind of a very large ox among a flock of sheep. While these were bustling 

 along, a great many soldiers were to be seen spread about on both sides of the 

 2 lines of march, some a foot or two distant, standing still or sauntering about, 

 as if on the look out lest some enemy should suddenly come on the labourers. 

 But the most extraordinary part of this march was the conduct of some others 

 of the soldiers, who having mounted the plants which grow thinly here and there 

 in the thick shade, had placed themselves on the points of the leaves, which 

 were elevated 10 or 15 inches above the ground, and hung over the army march- 

 ing below. Every now and then one or other of them beat with his forceps on 

 the leaf, and made the same sort of ticking noise so frequently observed to be 

 made by the soldier who acts the part of a surveyor or super-intendant, when 

 the labourers are at work repairing a breach made in one of the common hills of 

 the termites bellicosi. This signal among the inarching white ants produced a 

 similar effect; for, whenever it was made, the whole army returned a hiss, and 

 obeyed the signal by increasing their pace with the utmost hurry. The soldiers 

 who had mounted aloft, and gave these signals, sat quite still during the intervals, 

 except making now and then a slight turn of the head, and seemed as solicitous 

 to keep their posts as regular centinels. The 2 columns of the army joined into 

 one, about 12 or 15 paces from their separation, having in no part been above 3 

 yards asunder, and then descended into the earth by 2 or 3 holes. They conti- 

 nued marching by Mr. S. for above an hour that he stood admiring them, and 

 seemed neither to increase nor diminish their numbers, the soldiers only excepted, 

 who quitted the line of march, and placed themselves at different distances on 

 each side of the 2 columns; for they appeared much more numerous before he 

 quitted the spot. Not expecting to see any change in their march, and being 

 pinched for time, the tide being nearly up, and his departure fixed at high water, 

 he quitted the scene with some regret, as the observation of a day or two might 

 have afforded him the opportunity of exploring the reason and necessity of their 



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