416 
INSECTS. 
[Chap. XII. 
morning in the vicinity of their nest, returning laden 
with the spoils collected during their foraging excursions. 
These consist of comminuted vegetable matter, derived, 
it may be, from a thatched roof, if one happens to be 
within reach, or from the decaying leaves of a coco-nut. 
Each little worker in the column carries its tiny load in 
its jaws ; and the number of individuals in one of these 
lines of march must be immense, for the column is 
generally about two inches in width, and very densely 
crowded. One was measured which had most likely 
been in motion for hours, moving in the direction of the 
nest, and was found to be upwards of sixty paces in 
length. If attention be directed to the mass in motion, 
it will be observed that flanking it on each side through- 
out its whole length are stationed a number of horned 
soldier termites, whose duty it is to protect the 
labourers, and to give notice of any danger threatening 
them. This latter duty they perform by a peculiar quiver- 
ing motion of the whole body, which is rapidly commu- 
nicated from one to the other for a considerable distance ; 
a portion of the column is then thrown into confusion 
for a short time, but confidence soon returns, and the 
progress of the little creatures goes on with steadiness 
and order as before. The nest is of a black colour, and 
resembles a mass of scoriae ; the insects themselves are 
of a pitchy brown. 1 
Htmenopteea. Mason Wasp. — In Ceylon as in all 
other countries, the order of hymenopterous insects 
arrests us less by the beauty of their forms than the 
marvels of their sagacity and the achievements of their 
1 For these particulars of the Mr. Thwaites, of the Eoy. Botanic 
termes monoceros, I am indebted to Garden at Kandy. 
