THE WHITE ANTS. 



than those described hefore. This species seems much scarcer 

 and larger than the Termes bellicosus. They are little known to 

 the natives. Smeathman had an opportunity of observing them 

 by mere accident ; one day, having made an excursion with his 

 gun up the river Camerankoes, on his return through the thick 

 forest, while he was sauntering very silently in hopes of finding 

 some sport, on a sudden he heard a loud hiss, which, on account 

 of the many serpents in these countries, is a most alarming 

 sound. The next step caused a repetition of the noise, which he 

 soon recognised, and was rather surprised, seeing no covered ways 

 or hiUs. The noise, however, led him a few paces from the path, 

 where, to his great astonishment and pleasure, he saw an army of 

 Termites coming out of a hole in the ground, which could not be 

 above four or five inches wide. They came out in vast numbers, 

 moving forward as fast seemingly as it was possible for them 

 to march. In less than a yard from this place they divided 

 into two streams or columns, composed chiefly of labourers, 

 twelve or fifteen abreast, and crowded as close after one another 

 as sheep in a drove, going straight forward, without deviating to 

 the right or the left. Among these, here and there, one of the 

 soldiers was to be seen, trudging along with them in the same 

 manner, neither stopping nor turning; and as he carried his 

 enormous large head with apparent difiiculty, he appeared like a 

 very large ox amongst a flock of sheep. While these were 

 bustling along, a great many soldiers were to be seen spread 

 about on both sides of the two Mnes of march, some a foot or two 

 distant, standing still or sauntering about as if upon the look-out 

 lest some enemy should suddenly come upon the workers. But 

 the most extraordinary part of this march was the conduct of 

 some others of the soldiers, who, having mounted the plants 

 which grow thinly here and there in the thick shade, had placed 

 themselves upon the points of the leaves, which were elevated ten 

 or fifteen inches above the ground, and hung over the army 

 marching below. Every now and then one or other of them beat 

 with his forceps upon the leaf, and made the same sort of ticking 

 noise, which he had so frequently observed to be made by the 

 soldier who acts the part of surveyor or superintendent, when the 

 labourers are at work repairing a breach made in one of the 

 common hills of the Termites hellicosi. This signal among the 

 marching white ants produced a similar efiect ; for whenever it 

 was made, the whole army returned a hiss, and obeyed the signal 

 by increasing their pace with the utmost hurry. The soldiers 

 who had mounted aloft, and gave these signals, sat quite still 

 during the interval (except making now and then a slight turn 

 of the head), and seemed as solicitous to keep their posts as 

 126 



