THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



MARCH, 1840. 



ZOOLOGY. 



NESTS OF THE TERMES BELLICOSUS, (WHITE ANTS.) 



The nests of Fishes described in our last Number would unquestionably 

 excite the surprise of many of our Readers, and yet those of the Termes, 

 (commonly but erroneously designated White Ants,) are probably still 

 more calculated to awake attention and interest. The admirable instinct 

 and ingenuity of the real Ant and the Bee are universally known, but 

 those of the Termites, if possible, transcend them both. The tiny 

 creatures to which we now claim a few moments' attention are about a 

 quarter of an inch in length, and hence do not equal in dimensions some 

 species of Ants, and twenty-five of them weigh about a grain, and yet 

 they construct those wondrous edifices of which we are about to treat. 

 The nests of one species are so numerous all over the island of Bananas, 

 and the adjacent continent of Africa, that it is scarcely possible to 

 stand upon any cleared and open space where one of these buildings is 

 not to be seen within fifty paces, and frequently two or three are to be 

 witnessed almost close to each other. In some parts near Senegal, as 

 mentioned by Adanson, their number, magnitude, and closeness of situa- 

 tion, make them appear like the villages of the natives. 



Each of these communities consists of one male and one female, who 

 are generally the common parents of the rest, and of three orders of 

 insects, apparently of very different species, but really the same, which, 

 together, compose great commonwealths, or rather monarchies, if we may 

 use the term. The different species of the genus resemble each other in 

 form, in their manner of living, and in their good and bad qualities, but 

 differ as much as birds in the manner of building their habitations or nests, 

 and in the choice of the materials of which they compose them. There 

 are some species which build upon the surface of the ground, or part 

 above and part beneath, and one or two species, perhaps more, which 

 build on the stones and branches of trees, sometimes at a vast height. 



Of every species there are three orders : first, the working insects, 

 which may be called labourers; next, the fighting ones, or soldiers, which 

 do no kind of labour; and, last of all, the winged ones, or perfect insects, 

 which are male or female, and capable of propagation. These neither 

 labour nor toil, nor fight, being almost incapable of self-defence. These 

 only, however, are capable of being elected Kings and Queens ; and Na- 

 ture has so ordered it, that these emigrate a few weeks after they are ele- 

 vated to this state, to establish new kingdoms, or perish in a day. 



These buildings derive their names from their appearance, which is 

 that of little hills, more or less conical, generally much in the form of 

 sugar loaves, and about ten or twelve feet in perpendicular height above 

 the surface of the ground. These hills continue quite bare for some 

 time ; but in the second or third year, if not overshaded by trees, become 

 covered with grass and other plants, like the surrounding soil. The ex- 

 terior of these buildings is one large shell, in the shape of a dome, large 

 and strong enough to inclose and shelter the interior from the vicissitudes 

 of the weather, and the inhabitants from the attacks of natural or acci- 

 dental enemies. It is always, therefore, much stronger than the interior 

 building, which accommodates the interesting community. The hills at 

 first are one or two, a foot or more high. Soon after, at a little distance, 

 while the former are increasing in height and size, others are raised, and 

 increase in number, widening at the base, till the lower works are covered 

 with these edifices, which are raised highest and largest in the middle, until 

 13 



the intervals between the different turrets being filled up, a larger dome 

 is formed. 



The animals are not very curious or exact about these turrets, except 

 in making them very solid and strong, and when, by their junction, the 

 dome is completed, they take away the middle ones entirely, except the 

 tops, which, joined together, make the crown of the cupola, and apply the 

 clay to the internal works, or to additional erections. A notion of the 

 strength of these hills may be obtained from the fact, that, when little 

 more than half their height, it is the practice of the wild bulls to stand as 

 sentinels upon them, whilst the rest of the herd is ruminating ^elow. At 

 their full height they are excellent places for outlook, and four men may 

 be accommodated on the top of one of the hillocks. 



As to the interior, the royal chamber, occupied by the King and Queen, 

 appears, in the apprehension of the whole community, to be of primary 

 importance. It is situated as near the centre of the building as possible, 

 and generally near the surface of the ground : it is almost invariably 

 shaped like an half egg. In the infant state of the colony, this apart- 

 ment is not above an inch in length, but with time increases to six or 

 eight inches, or more, being always in proportion to the size of the 

 Queen. Its floor, perfectly horizontal, is in large hillocks, sometimes 

 more than an inch thick of solid clay. The roof also, which is one solid 

 and well turned arch, is generally about the same solidity; but, on the 

 sides, where it joins the floor, is in some places not more than a quarter of 

 an inch thick. Here are placed the doors, and these entrances will not 

 admit any animal larger than the soldiers and labourers ; so that the King 

 and Queen can never possibly go out. The royal chamber, in a large 

 hillock, is surrounded by innumerable quantities of others of different 

 sizes, shapes, and dimensions, but all arched, some circularly, others ellip- 

 tical or oval, which either open into each other, or communicate by wide 

 and open passages. These apartments are joined by the magazines and 

 nurseries. The former are chambers of clay, and are always well filled 

 with provisions, principally gums, and the inspissated juices of plants. 

 These magazines are intermixed with the nurseries, buildings quite dif- 

 ferent from the rest of the apartments, composed entirely of wooden ma- 

 terials conjoined together. They are invariably occupied by eggs and 

 young ones, which are at first as white as snow. They are placed all 

 round the royal chamber, and as near it as possible. As in process of 

 time the Queen enlarges, her apartment must also be enlarged, and as 

 she now lays many more eggs, the small nurseries are broken down, and 

 rebuilt at a greater distance, of larger size and in increased number. In 

 the early state of the nest, they are not bigger than a hazel-nut, but in 

 great hills are often as large as a child's head of a year old : they are in- 

 closed in chambers of clay, like the magazines, but are much larger. 



The arrangement in the interior is commonly according to the follow- 

 ing plan : The royal chamber is near the centre, on a level with the ground 

 and directly under the apex of the hill. It is on all sides surrounded by 

 the royal apartments, where the labourers and soldiers wait to guard and 

 serve their common parents. These apartments extend a foot or more 

 on every side round the royal chamber. Here the nurseries and maga- 

 zines commence, and are continued on all sides, along with the calieries 

 to the outward shell, reaching to within two-thirds of its height.ieavine 

 an open area in the middle, under the dome, resembling the nave of a ca- 

 thedral : this is surrounded by three or four very large Gothic arches 

 which are sometimes two or three feet high next the centre, whence they 



