Mr. T. S. Savage on the Termitidse of West Africa. 103 



by the workers, who evidently continued in a state of the greatest 

 alarm. 



The floor of the chamber was perfectly plane and smooth, ex- 

 hibiting not the slightest impression from the body of the queen. 

 The roof in the centre was £ of an inch thick ; the floor about £ ; 

 at the line of conjunction about £. Posteriorly in the line of 

 junction between the roof and floor was a small aperture, sheltered 

 from above by a spur of clay running downwards, which was the 

 only way discovered of ingress and egress. It could not have 

 admitted an insect larger than the soldiers, and even to them, as 

 it then appeared, it must have been a " strait gate." The king 

 could not have passed, and, consequently, not the queen. It had 

 the appearance of having been repeatedly closed and opened by 

 collections of clay around it. 



That the queen is inclosed for life, is evident from the fact that 

 she is, from her great size, incapable of progression of herself, or 

 of being transported by any means within the power of the com- 

 munity. 



On clearing away the refuse at the base of the hill, the orifices 

 of the main passages under the basement were discovered ; de- 

 scending in a sloping direction, they led to large vacant rooms, 

 made by the pillars supporting the archwork, on which rests 

 the interior of the structure. These pillars or columns were of 

 an irregular, rounded shape, from ^ to 21 inches in diameter, 

 and stood on the solid ground about 6 inches high. 



On visiting this hill the next morning, all the passages in that 

 portion of the wall not dissected were found well closed with 

 fresh deposits of clay, and also a continuous layer spread over 

 the remaining central cellular work. This was done during the 

 night by the surviving members of the community for their pro- 

 tection against the cool air of the night, the rain, and hostile 

 insects. 



The opening of a hill is the signal for the gathering of all 

 their foes, — ants, reptiles, &c. ; hence the speedy closing of their 

 various entrances is a step of primary importance. 



Another hill, previously dissected, was, after a time, so far 

 repaired as to be externally perfect. On taking it down again, 

 though the cellular work was apparently restored, no queen was 

 found nor royal apartments ; a few workers were all the insects 

 discovered, and they were collected in the cells in the walls of 

 the hill. 



Hill 2nd.— Opened Feb. 3rd, 1847. 



Circumference at base . . . . 26 ft. 10 in. 

 Height on the outer surface . 8 „ 6 „ 



A diagonal section was made by a cross cut saw, beginning 

 just below the upper floor of Smeathman. 



