40 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS, 
the fortress when assailed by enemies :—these, as ob- 
served before, are the neuters or soldiers. If the breach 
be made in a slight part of the building, one of these 
comes out to reconnoitre; he then retires and gives the 
alarm. Two or three others next appear, scrambling as 
fast as they can one after the other ;—to these succeed a 
large body, who rush forth with as much speed as the 
breach will permit, their numbers continually increasing 
during the attack. It is not easy to describe the rage 
and fury by which these diminutive heroes seem ac- 
tuated. In their haste they frequently miss their hold, 
and tumble down the sides of their hill: they soon, how- 
ever, recover themselves, and, being blind, bite every 
thing they run against. If the attack proceeds, the 
bustle and agitation increase to a ten-fold degree, and 
their fury is raised to its highest pitch, Wo to him 
whose hands or legs they can come at! for they will 
make their fanged jaws meet at the very first stroke, 
drawing as much blood as will counterpoise their whole 
body, and never quitting their hold, even though they 
are pulled limb from limb. ‘The naked legs of the Ne- 
groes expose them frequently to this injury; and the 
stockings of the European are not sufficient to defend 
him. . 
On the other hand, if, after the first attack, you get a 
little out of the way, giving them no further interruption, 
supposing the assailant of their citadel is gone beyond 
their reach, in less than half an hour they will retire into 
the nest; and before they have all entered, you will see 
the labourers in motion, hastening iM various directions 
towards the breach, every one carrying in his mouth a 
