the Termites of Africa and other hot Climates . 1 3 ^ 
embarrafs one another ; and you are mod: agreeably deceived 
when, after an apparent fcene of hurry and confufion, a regu- 
lar wall arifes, gradually filling up the chafm. While they are 
thus employed, almofi: all the foldiers are retired quite out of 
light, except here and there one, who faunters about among fix 
hundred or a thoufand of the labourers, but never touches the 
mortar either to lift or carry it ; one, in particular, places him- 
felf clofe to the wall they are building. This foldier will turn 
himfelf leifurely on all fides, and every now and then, at inter- 
vals of a minute or two, lift up his head, and with his forceps 
beat upon the building, and make the vibrating noife before 
mentioned ; on which immediately a loud hifs, which appears 
to come from all the labourers, blues from within fide the 
dome and all the fubterraneous caverns and pafiages : that it 
does come from the labourers is very evident, for you will fee 
them all haften at every fuch fignal, redouble their pace, and 
work as fall: again. 
As the moft interefting experiments become dull by repetition 
or continuance, fo the uniformity with which this bufinefs is 
carried on, though fo very wonderful, at lafi: fatiates the mind. 
A renewal of the attack, however, inftantly changes the fcene, 
and gratifies our curiofity ftill more. At every broke we hear a 
loud hifs ; and on the firfi: the labourers run into the many pipes 
and galleries with which the building is perforated, which they 
do fo quickly that they feem to vanifli, for in a few feconds all 
are gone, and the foldiers rufh out as numerous and as vindi&ive 
as before to). On finding no enemy they return again leifurely 
into 
(45) By the foldiers being fo ready to run out upon the repetition of the 
attack, it appears, that they but juft withdraw out of fight, to leave room for 
the labourers to proceed without interruption in repairing the breach, and in this 
Vote LXXI, B b mftance 
