416 



INSECTS. 



[Chap. XIL 



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 

 nestj 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 scoriaG ; the insects themselves are 

 of a pitchy brown. 1 



Hymenoptera. 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 Koy. Botanic 

 termes monoceros, I am indebted to Garden at Kandy. 



