XXVII 
TERMITES (WHITE ANTS) 
333 
narrow part of the wing near the body, leaving four 
short stumps. These insects usually swarm just before 
the rains ; emerging from the nest in myriads, they are 
preyed upon by birds, animals and men. After shed¬ 
ding their wings they fall to the ground and become 
An Ant-hill of unusual shape on the Baringo Plain. (Photo by 
Mr. F. C. Cobb. From Powell-Cotton’s Unknown Africa.) 
available for reptiles and ants. The winged termites are 
the sexual form, and, on the ground, the males may be 
seen chasing the females, and in this stage they are the 
easy helpless prey of the ants. 
The natives look for the swarming of termites with 
the same interest as sportsmen look for pheasants and 
the London poor for fresh herrings, and they secure them 
