Microscopical Essays, 297 



always raife the higheft and larger! in the middle, and by filling 

 up the intervals between each turret, collecT; them as it were into 

 one dome. 



They are not very curious or exa£l about thefe turrets, except 

 in making them very folid and ftrong ; and when, by the junction 

 of them, the dome is completed, for which purpofe the turrets 

 ■anfwer as fcafFolds, they take away the middle ones entirely, ex- 

 cept the tops, (which joined together make the crown of the 

 cupola) and apply the clay to the building of the works within, 

 or to erecling frefh turrets for the purpofe of railing the hillock 

 {till higher ; fo that no doubt fome part of the clay is ufed feveral 

 times, like the boards and polls of a mafon's fcaffold. 



The outward {hell, or dome, is not only of ufe to protect, and 

 fupport the interior buildings from external violence, and the 

 heavy rains, but to collecl: and p refer ve a tegular degree of genial 

 warmth and moifture, which feems very neceffary for hatching 

 the eggs and cheriihing the young ones. 



The royal chamber, which, on account of it's being adapted 

 For, and occupied by the king and queen, appears to be, in the 

 opinion of this little people, of the raoft confequence, being 

 always fituated as near the center of the interior building as 

 poffible, and generally about the height of the common furface 

 of the ground, at a pace or two from the hillock; it is always 

 nearly in the fhape of half an egg, or an obtufe oval within, and 

 may be fuppofed to reprefent a long oven, 



Oo fe 



