456' THE WHITE ANTS. 



raise highest in the middle of the hill $ and, by fill* 

 ing up the intervals between each, they collecfe 

 them, at last, into one great dome. 



The royal chamber is always situated as near the 

 centre of the building as possible, and is generally 

 on a level with the common surface of the ground. 

 It is nearly in the shape of half an egg, or an 

 obtuse oval, within, and may be supposed to re- 

 present a long oven. In the infant state of the co- 

 lony, it is not above an inch in length ; but in time 

 it becomes increased to six or eight inches,^or more, 

 being always in proportion to the size of the queen, 

 who, increasing in bulk as in age, at length requires 

 a chamber of such dimensions. 



The entrances into the royal chamber not admit- 

 ting any animal larger than the labourers or soldiers, 

 it follows that the king and queen can never possi- 

 bly get out. This chamber is surrounded by an 

 innumerable quantity of others, of different sizes, 

 figures, and dimensions; all of them arched either 

 in a circular or an elliptical form. These cham- 

 bers either open into each other, or have communi- 

 cating passages ; which, being always clear, are evi- 

 dently intended for the convenience of the soldiers 

 and attendants, of whom great numbers are neces- 

 sary. The latter apartments are joined by the maga- 

 zines and nurseries. The magazines are chambers of 

 clay, and are at all times well stored with provisions, 

 which, to the naked eye, seem to consist of the 

 raspings of wood and plants ; but, when examined 

 by the microscope, they are found to consist chiefly 

 of the gums or inspissated juices of plants, thrown 



