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Proceedings of the Royal Society 
subterranean passages leading deep into the earth. The method of 
building the tunnels and covered ways is as follows : — At the foot 
of a tree the tiniest hole cautiously opens in the ground close to the 
bark. A small head appears with a grain of earth clasped in its 
jaws. Against the tree trunk this earth-grain is deposited, and the 
head is withdrawn. Presently it reappears with another grain of 
earth; this is laid beside the first, rammed tight against it, and 
again the builder descends underground for more. The third grain 
is not placed against the tree but against the former grain; a fourth, 
a fifth, and a sixth follow, and the plan of the foundation begins to 
suggest itself as soon as these are in position. The stones or grains, 
or pellets of earth, are arranged in a semi-circular wall, the termite, 
now assisted by three or four others, standing in the middle between 
the sheltering wall and the tree, and working briskly with head and 
mandible to strengthen the position. The wall, in fact, forms a 
small moon-rampart, and as it grows higher and higher it soon 
becomes evident that it is going to grow from a low battlement into 
a long perpendicular tunnel running up the side of the tree. The 
workers, safely ensconced inside, are now carrying up the structure 
with great rapidity, disappearing in turn as soon as they have laid 
their stone and rushing off to bring up another. Each stone as it is 
brought to the top is first of all covered with mortar. Of course, 
without this the whole tunnel would crumble into dust before 
reaching the height of half an inch ; but the termite pours over the 
stone a moist sticky secretion, turning the grain round and round 
with its mandibles until the whole is covered with slime. Then it 
places the stone with great care upon the top of the wall, works it 
about vigorously for a moment or two till it is well jammed into its 
place, and then starts off instantly for another load. 
Peering over the growing wall one soon discovers one, two, or 
more termites of a somewhat larger build, considerably longer, and 
with a very different arrangement of the parts of the head, and espe- 
cially of the mandibles. These important-loooking individuals 
saunter about the rampart in the most leisurely way, but yet 
with a certain air of business, as if perhaps the one was the 
master of works and the other the architect. But closer obser- 
vation suggests that they are in nowise superintending opera- 
tions, nor in any immediate way contributing to the structure, 
