THE COASTS OF SAIXTONGE. 335 



very walls which shelter them seeming to be changed 

 into hot-beds to furnish materials for their nourish- 

 ment. Owing to the humid heat which prevails 

 at all times in the centre of the nest, the par- 

 titions of wood and gum which form the nurseries 

 are soon covered with microscopical fungi, very 

 similar to our mushrooms, and the young Termites 

 find in this mould a species of food adapted to their 

 early wants. They no doubt undergo some first meta- 

 morphosis, and subsequently assume the form of the 

 active labourers or soldiers. The former alone attain 

 the condition of perfect insects. 



Towards the beginning of the rainy reason, their 

 wings become fully developed, and selecting some 

 stormy evening for the period of their flight, the 

 males and females issue by millions from their sub- 

 terranean retreats. Their aerial life is, however, of 

 very short duration, for after a few hours their wings 

 wither and fall off. On the following day the earth 

 appears thickly strewn with the bodies of these 

 hapless insects, and being henceforth incapable of 

 flight, they fall an easy prey to the thousand enemies 

 who are anxiously watching for this annual food. 

 Only a small number escape the general massacre. 

 A few couples, collected by the labourers, and pro- 

 tected by the soldiers which chance has led near them, 

 return into their galleries, and generally become the 

 sovereigns of those who have saved them. Soon 

 enclosed for ever within the royal cell, they form the 

 nucleus of a new community, and have nothing more 

 to think of but to endeavour to augment the numbers 

 of their subjects. 



All travellers speak of ants being used by certain 



