TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Their induftry feems almoft equal to that of the bee; 
throughout the day they appear to be bufily employed in car- 
rying a fine fpecies of grafs, which is the principal material 
they employ for the purpofe of ere<9:ing this extraordinary 
work, as well as for additions and repairs. Though my fhort 
ftay in the country was not fufficient to fatisfy me by ocular 
proof, that they added to their neft as they annually increafed 
in numbers, ftill from the rnany trees which I have feen born 
down with the weight, and others which I have obferved with 
their boughs completely covered over, it would appear that 
this really was the cafe ; when the tree, which is the fupport of 
this aeriel city, is obliged to give way to the increafe of weight, 
it is obvious that they are no longer proteded, and are under 
the neceffity of rebuilding in other trees. 
One of thefe deferted nefts I had the curiofity to break 
down, fo as to inform myfelf of the internal flru6lure of it, and 
found it equally ingenious with that of the external. There 
are many entrances, each of which forms a regular flrect, with 
nefts on both fides, at about two inches diftance from each 
other. 
The grafs with which they build is called, the Bofhman's 
grals ; and I believe the feed of it to be their principal food ; 
though on examining their nefts I found the wings and legs of 
different infers. From every appearance the neft, which I 
difledled, had been inhabited for many years ; and fome parts 
of it were much more complete than others : this, therefore, I 
