XXVII 



TERMITES (WHITE ANTS) 



333 



eavmg four 



iiiUTow part of the wing near the liody, 

 short stum})s. These insects usiiall)' swarm just before 

 the rains ; emerging from the nest in myriads, they arc 

 preyed upon by birds, animals and men. After slied- 

 ding their wings they fall to the ground and become 



^r-'f/'J- " 



An Ant-hill of unusual shape on the Baringo Plain. (Photo by 

 Mr. F. C Cobb. P^rom Powell-Cotton' .s Unknown Africa.) 



available for reptiles and ants. The winged termites are 

 the sexual form, and, on the ground, the males may be 

 seen chasing the females, and in this stage they are the 

 easy helpless prey of the ants. 



The natives look for the swarming of termites with 

 the same interest as sportsmen look for pheasants and 

 the London poor for fresh herrings, and they secure them 



