506 
WHITE ANTS. 
of the building, and do it quickly with a strong 
hoe or pick-axe, in the space of a few seconds a 
soldier will run out and walk about the breach, 
as if to see whether the enemy is gone, or to exa- 
mine what is the cause of the attack. He will 
sometimes go again, as if to give the alarm ; but 
most frequently, in a short time, is followed by 
two or three others, who run as fast as they can, 
straggling after one another, and are soon followed 
by a large body who rush out as fast as the breach 
will permit them; and so they proceed, the number 
increasing as long as any one continues battering 
their building. It is not easy to describe the rage 
and fury they show. In this hurry they frequently 
miss their hold and tumble down the sides of the 
hill, but recover themselves as quickly as possible ; 
and, being blind, bite every thing they run against, 
and thus make a crackling noise ; while some of 
them beat repeatedly with their forceps upon the 
building, and make a small vibrating noise, some- 
thing shriller and quicker than the ticking of a 
watch : I could distinguish this noise at three or 
four feet distance, and it continued for a minute at 
a time, at short intervals. While the attack pro- 
ceeds they are in the most violent bustle and agi- 
tation. If they get hold of any one, they will in 
an instant let out blood enough to weigh against 
their whole body ; and if it is the leg they wound, 
you will see the stain upon the stocking extend an 
inch in width. They make their hooked jaws meet 
at the first stroke, and never quit their hold, but 
