Ants and Termites. 



the movement of these wonderful little masons by the 

 hour. Each stone as it is brought to the top is first 

 of all covered with mortar. Of course, without this 

 the whole tunnel would crumble into dust before reach- 

 ing the height of half an inch ; but the Termite pours 

 over the stone a moist, sticky secretion, turning the 

 grain round and round with its mandibles until the 

 whole is covered with slime. Then it places the stone 

 with great care upon the top of the wall, works it about 

 vigorously for a moment or two till it is well jammed 

 into its place, and then starts off instantly for another 

 load." 



The great conical mounds formed by the Termites 

 are not mere refuse heaps, but the citadels beneath 

 whose walls the swarming insects live ^hd rear their 

 young. The interior of the mound is divided up into 

 numerous galleries and chambers, and many of the 

 galleries lead downward far into the earth, where they 

 communicate with other chambers, in whose excava- 

 tion the Termites have obtained the materials for build- 

 ing up the mound on top. One of the most spacious 

 of these subterranean chambers appears generally to be 

 set aside as the dwelling-place of the Queen Termite 

 and her husband. The Termite colony consists of a 

 vast number of sexually immature workers ; a lesser 

 number of large-headed, powerful-jawed soldiers who 

 take no part in building operations, but mount guard 

 and fight all intruders ; and a perfectly developed male, 

 or king, and female, or queen Termite. The perfect 

 young males and females have wings, and in the spring 

 they leave the nest in large numbers, flying up into 

 the air, and in most cases probably mating with indi- 



119 



