DWELLINGS. 



211 



a polymorphism which produces creatures of three 

 sorts: I, the soldiers, recognised by their large heads 

 and long sliarp mandibles, moved by powerful 

 muscles; it is their mission to defend the whole 

 colony against its adversaries, atid the wounds they 

 can produce, fatal to creatures of their own size, are 

 painful even to man ; 2, the zvorkers, who labour as 

 navvies and architects, and take charge of the pupse: 

 they form the great majority of the community; 3, the 

 king and queen. (Fig. 38.) To each nest there is 



Fig. 38. . 



1. King before wings are cast off ; 2. Worker (nenter) ; 3. Queen witli abdomen 

 distended with eggs ; 4. Soldier (neuter); 5. Young (resembling adults). 



usually only a single fertile and lazy couple. These 

 two personages do absolutely nothing ; the soldiers 

 and the workers care for them and bring them food. 

 They have both possessed wings, but these fall off. 

 The queen reigns but does not govern; she lays. 

 The king is simply the husband of the queen. The 

 internal administration of the palace is bound up with 

 the parts played by these three kinds of beings. 



