iSS Mr. bmeathman’s Account of 
Some df theft; little unhappy creatures would ramble from 
the chamber, as if tfe explore the caufe of fuch a horrid ruin 
and cataftrophe to their immenfe building, as it mu ft appear to 
them ; and, after fruitlefs endeavours to get over the fide 
of the bowl, return and mix with the croud that continue 
running round their common parents to thelaft (tab. VIII. fig. 
4. b-). Others, placing themfelves along her fide, get hold of 
the queen’s vaft matrix with their jaws, and pull with all their 
ftrength fo as vifibly to lift up the part which they fix at ; but, 
as I never faw any effeft from thele attempts, I never could 
determine whether this pulling was with an intention to remove 
her body, or to ftimulate her to move herfelf, or for any other 
purpofe ; but, after many ineffectual tugs, they would delift 
and join in the croud running round,' or afllft fome' of thole 
who are cutting off clay from the external parts of the cham- 
ber or fome t)f the fragments and moiftening it with the 
juices of their bodies, to begin to work a thin arched fhell 
over the body of the queen, as if to exclude the air, or to hide 
Her from the obfervation of fome enemy. Thefe, if not in- 
terrupted, before the next morhing, completely cover her, 
leaving room enough withirrfor great numbers to run about her. 
I do not mention the king in this cafe, becaufe he is very fmall 
in proportion to the queen, not being bigger than thirty of the 
labourers, fo that he generally conceals himfelf under one fide 
of the abdomen, except when he goes up to the queen s head, 
which he does now and then, but not fo frequently as the reft. 
If in your attack on the hill yon flop fhort of the royal cham- 
ber, and cut down about half of the building, and leave open 
will all be fhut 
ling. If even 
the whole is pulled dowfi, and* the different buildings are thrown 
fome thoufands of galleries and chambers/ they 
up with thin fheets of clay before the next mon 
4 
m 
