Mr. T. S. Savage on the Termitidse of West Africa. 97 



seen with the labourers in small numbers, arid retreat with them 

 to the interior. Then appear the larger soldiers, whose duty 

 especially it is to defend the community. Their conduct, fero- 

 cious aspect, &c. have been well described by Smeathman, and 

 need not be here repeated. It has been said, however, whether 

 by Mr. Smeathman or not, I cannot state, that in the act of 

 biting " they never quit their hold even though they are pulled 

 limb from limb" (Kirby and Spence, Introduct. vol. ii. p. 40). 



This assertion has been correctly made of the Driver Ants of 

 Africa (Anomma arcens and A. rubella), but cannot be of the 

 Termes fatalis. It is the habit of this insect to let go imme- 

 diately after biting, and strike as fiercely at another place, doing 

 this several times in quick succession. The manner in which its 

 jaws operate will not admit of a continued hold. Like scissors 

 (unlike the mandibles of the Anomma) they cross each other, 

 separating the fibres by a clear cut through. 



In about fifteen minutes after the attack of the enemy, the 

 work of reparation begins by the labourers, who, accompanied by 

 a few of the smaller soldiers, and occasionally a larger, appear 

 in great numbers. In view of the duty performed by these two 

 orders, it is a surprising fact that both males and females are 

 without eyes. 



These, at particular seasons, leave the hills in vast numbers. 

 " The rains," as they are familiarly termed in Africa, begin in 

 May, sooner or later, and continue with some intermissions until 

 October. During the month of July, and sometimes extending 

 into August, an intermission takes place under the name of 

 ff middle dries," dividing them into " early and latter rains." At 

 the beginning of these seasons — " early and latter rains," — the 

 Termes swarm (if it may be so called) in incalculable numbers. 

 At their exit so rapid is their ascent, that they present the ap- 

 pearance of smoke rising from all parts of the hill. The holes 

 through which they escape are temporary, created for this pur- 

 pose, and closed when the swarming ceases. During this pro- 

 cess, the atmosphere for many rods distant seems to be filled 

 with them. Birds are then seen whirling and darting through 

 the air in quick pursuit — all orders of insect-eating animals are 

 now on the alert. Barn-yard fowls are seen to jump up several 

 feet from the ground to catch them as they descend. Indeed, 

 men as well as brutes make them their prey. All tribes of Afri- 

 cans however do not eat them. The Grebos, who inhabit Cape 

 Palm as, and- among whom these observations were made, reject 

 them as food. Why, it is difficult to tell, unless it be from the 

 trouble attending their capture. It is not from any fastidiousness 

 of taste, for they are known to eat snakes, toads, grubs, beetles, 

 and even putrid meat, with zest. Tribes about fifty miles to the 



Ann. §• Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. v. 7 



