cell. While some are thus employed, others increase
the size of their abode by running fresh corridors round the edifice,
and forming new cells; while other parties, protected by soldiers, are
foraging far and wide for food for the ever-increasing population.

In process of time--always within twelve months--the numberless progeny
of the queen become full-grown. Some become developed into labourers,
with smooth, rounded heads, and mouths adapted for carrying loads and
working up the materials for the construction of their abodes; others--
the fighting class--have heads of large size, provided with pointed
weapons of defence of various shapes, resembling, in different species,
horns, pikes, rams; while others are furnished with powerful jaws,
resembling either sabres, swords, or sickles. A third class appear with
eyes, and long, delicate wings--gay, happy creatures, far better formed,
it would seem, to enjoy existence than their hard-working brethren.
These are the males and females of the community. When they are
prepared to issue forth from their birth-place, the labourers busily set
to work to clear a passage to allow of their speedy egress. This takes
place generally on a damp, close evening or cloudy morning. Countless
numbers issue forth at intervals, till the whole progeny of males and
females have emerged from their pupa state. They make a loud rustling
noise as they fly through the air in all directions; but they are
immediately set upon by numberless enemies,--goatsuckers, lizards,
spiders, and ants,--who greedily eat them up. On reaching the ground
they immediately divest themselves of their wings; and the few pairs
which escape from their foes seek safety in some hollow beneath a leaf
or lump of earth, where they await the arrival of the faithful
labourers, who now come forth in search of them, and conduct them, as
has before been said, to the newly-formed abode prepared for their
reception. And thus the wonderful process goes forward year after year.

So utterly helpless are these males and females, that, were it not for
the assistance of other individuals, the race would speedily become
extinct. The warrior termites are utterly regardless of personal
safety. When their castle is attacked, they appear in vast numbers at
the breach, to cover the retreat of the labourers. As the long tongue
of the ant-eater is projected among them, they throw themselves on it;
and no sooner is one regiment swallowe