THE TERMITES. 197 



high, turfed above and not unlike gigantic mole hills. A 

 pleasant resting-place for the weary traveller, cared for by 

 heaven, for the end of his journey is yet distant and the 

 sun already near the horizon. A thick dark cloud floats slowly 

 overhead and renders the close evening yet more sultry. 

 The rainy season, the weary winter of the tropics, is at hand. 

 The staff is already seized to hurry with freshened energy 

 to the hospitable hearth, when the parting glance thrown by 

 the traveller on the place of repose is suddenly arrested, for 

 ^in uneasy movement begins in the seemingly dead mound of 

 earth. As by enchantment a diagonal slit opens in the 

 midst of the hill. A little insect squeezes itself out, with 

 inch-long winglets closely pressed together : it is followed 

 by two, three, four and more in a row, as many as can pass 

 through the rapidly widening crevice. The baud descends 

 the hill like a silver ribbon, the delicate membrane of the 

 thousands of tiny wings glittering like mother-of-pearl. The 

 procession makes its way exactly against the wind, for thus 

 only can the tender winglets resist the pressure of the air. 

 Swiftly, without ceasing, it continues, new and ever new 

 arrivals strengthen the troop as swiftly as if they were being 

 driven from the nest. Meanwhile more rifts have been 

 made. Similar swarms break forth from these. Like a volcano 

 the tiny mountain seems to discharge its living lava. At 

 the rifts themselves is seen a curious spectacle. Tiny 

 unwinged creatures with uncouth heads and sabre-like 

 curved jaws appear at the openings. Threateningly they 

 swing their large heads, and defend the entrance to their 

 subterranean chambers or hasten the march of their expelled 

 bi-ethren. The wonderful procession lasts for a full hour ; 

 it almost seems as though it were to have no end. At last 

 the ranks become thinner and narrower, here and there are 

 seen delaying laggards, the crevices, walled in by unseen 

 hands, begin to close and the hill soon takes on its wonted 

 appearance. Meanwhile the troop has taken wing ; it 

 gradually rises with uncertain wavering flight higher and 

 higher, and hovers closely pressed together round the tops 

 of the trees. A continual rising and falling of individuals 

 enlivens the scene and changes the whole whirl into that 

 mystic dance which the ephemeral gnats are wont to lead 

 here also on the warmer summer evenings. Gradually the 

 number of the falling insects increases. If we look closely 



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