320 



PTILOTA : PHYSIOLOGY AND 



Now these varied phenomena are manifested to us in an 

 endless variety of methods j in the affection of msects for 

 their offspring ; in the numerous distinct modes in which the 

 parent insect deposits her eggs in the most appropriate situa- 



Fig7. Settiouofthe nest of Teniiesfatftle, on a scale of one inch to eight feet — a, the 

 royal chamber — b, the apartments of the royal attendants — c c, the nurseries and inag;a- 

 zines extending- up the sides of the nest — d, the lower roof — e, the upper roof—/, two 

 bridges reaching from apertures in the lower roof to some of the upper nurseries — g, the 

 hollow dome — hh, the thick mud walls of the building, penetrated in various directions 

 by passages, i i, of various sizes, chiefly in a spiral direction from the bottom of the nest 

 to the upper parts — k, one of the great under-ground outlets of the nest. 



tions ; in the construction of nests ; in the various stratagems 

 by which insects procure their food ; in the modes of defence 

 employed by insects either against their ordinary enemies or 

 accidents ; but, more than all, in the varied economy of so- 

 cial insects — bees, humble-bees, wasps, ants, white ants. 

 All these varied phenomena appear, however, to be resolv- 

 able to two principal heads — the continuance of the species, 

 and the preservation of the individual : indeed, the great 

 end and final care of the endless labom-s of the social insects 

 can only be traced to one or the other of these causes. 



If we confine our attention to the first of these grounds of 

 inquu-y, viz. the perpetuation of the species, we find that 

 here, as elsewhere, the great command " Increase and multi- 



