HISTORY OF INSECTS. 83 



thus, by the united labour of millions, damages of 

 great extent are repaired in a few hours. 



271. If, during the operation of rebuilding, the 

 aggressor again appears, and molests them, the 

 labourers instantly retire, and the soldiers again 

 sally forth, biting every thing they can reach with 

 the utmost fury ; when all is quiet they again 

 withdraw, and the labourers again appear : these 

 scenes may be renewed constantly without the 

 least diminution of the zeal and ferocity of the 

 soldiers, or of the industry of the labourers. 



272. Whilst the labourers are thus engaged, a 

 few soldiers remain among them as sentinels, and 

 also as overseers, to encourage and direct them. 

 When the labourers appear to weary in the per- 

 formance of their duty, these soldiers strike their 

 jaws against the wall of the nest, producing a 

 loud ticking noise, at which the labourers utter a 

 loud hiss, and redouble their exertions. 



273. Excepting in these repairs, when they are 

 necessarily exposed, the whole of the operations 

 of the white ants are carried on under cover. If 

 a peculiar part of a tree is to be attacked, a 

 covered way is made along the bark until it is 

 attained. 



274. The favourite food of the white ants ap- 

 pears to be wood, no kinds except teak and iron 

 wood escaping them : they much prefer it when 

 converted as timber to the living state. The pro- 

 visions stored in the nests appear like particles 



G 2 



