78 WAYS OF THE SIX-FOOTED 



the roots of the young corn, and thus gain a nucleus 

 for their siimmer herds. This shows a process of reason- 

 ing on the part of the ants, since they do not feed upon 

 corn roots themselves, and yet seem to know that the 

 aphids require this food. 



Military Forces, Slavery, and War 



Only among termites is there a strictly soldier caste. 

 To this belong both males and females, which are dis- 

 tinguished by having very large heads, armed with 

 strong jaws. The soldiers never do any work for the 

 colony, but hold themselves within the nest, ready to 

 defend it in case of attack. Strike a termite nest with 

 a stick and instantly the little workers, busy with con- 

 struction, will disappear, and the soldiers will rush out 

 pell-mell, ready to throw themselves upon the intruder. 

 If they see no enemy, they retire, and their places are 

 taken by the workers, who proceed to repair the nest 

 with great rapidity. The soldiers have a habit of 

 striking their great jaws against the wood of the nest, 

 making a clicking sound ; the workers respond to this 

 signal with a hiss. Some naturalists have believed 

 this knocking by the soldiers was an assurance that 

 the coast was clear. Some have believed that it was 

 a command to hasten, as the workers seem to hustle 

 about faster after hearing it. As the termites do not 



