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to shelter the inner parts from the vicissitudes of weather, and its inhabitants from the invasion of natural or accidental enemies. The interior contains a great number of separate cells, for the residence of the king and queen, the young progeny, and magazines for stores and provisions. The chamber appropriated to the king and queen, is a principal object of their care; being of an oval shape, and placed near the centre of the building. At first it is not above an inch in length; but it is increased in size, in proportion as the bulk of the queen enlarges; who, as we have already seen, in due time requires a cell of much larger dimensions. To make it complete, it is covered with a solid, well-turned, oval arch. This chamber is surrounded by innumerable others, of different sizes and shapes, but all of them arched. Beyond these are the magazines and nurseries.: the former are made of clay, arid are always well filled with provisions; which appear like raspings of wood and plants, but are found to consist of the gums or inspissated juices of vegetables. The nurseries are entirely different from the rest of the apartments, being composed of wooden materials, joined together with gums. These are invariably occupied by the eggs, or young ones: the latter, when first hatched, are as white as snow.

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