482 
WHITE ANTS. 
height above the common surface of the ground. 
These hills continue quite bare until they are six 
or eight feet high ; but in time the dead barren 
clay of which they are composed becomes fertilized 
by the genial power of the elements in these prolific 
climates, and the addition of vegetable salts and 
other matters brought by the wind ; and in the se- 
cond or third year, the hillock, if not overshaded 
by trees, becomes, like the rest of the earth, almost 
covered with grass and other plants ; and in the dry 
season, when the herbage is burnt up by the rays 
of the sun, it is not much unlike a very large hay- 
cock. 
“ Every one of these buildings consists of two 
distinct parts, the exterior and the interior. 
“ The exterior is one large shell in the manner 
of a dome, large and strong enough to enclose and 
shelter the interior from the vicissitudes of the 
weather, and the inhabitants from the attacks of 
natural or accidental enemies. It is always, there- 
fore, much stronger than the interior building, 
which is the habitable part, divided with a won- 
derful kind of regularity and contrivance into an 
amazing number of apartments for the residence of 
the king and queen, and the nursing of their nu- 
merous progeny ; or for magazines, which are al- 
ways found well filled with stores and provisions. 
These hills make their first appearance above-ground 
by a little turret or two in the shape of sugar-loaves, 
which are seen a foot high or more. Soon after, 
at some little distance, while the former are in- 
