XXVII 



TERMITES (WHITE ANTS) 



335 



put to quaint uses, for Macdouald states that the Engiisli 

 sohliers iu Pi'etoria scooped out the interior of the 

 small beehive-shaped nests and, covering the tops with 

 clay, used them as ovens. Sir Samuel Baker converted 

 one into a kiln in whicli to l)urn oyster shells in order 

 to obtain a supply of lime for soap-making. 



The Aard-Wolf (Protdes cristatv.f) lives in the disused holes of 

 the antbear, where it sleeps all daj' and comes out at sunset. 

 The mane is capable of being erected when the animal becomes 

 excited. 



The brick houses of the Scotch mission station on 

 Lake Nyasa were built from material obtained from the 

 nest of the white ant. For this purpose the earth 

 from the nest was ground up, mixed with water, formed 

 into a paste, and moulded into bricks. When dry it is 

 very hard. The natives of Central Africa often build 



