TERMES. 
413 
milar to the nidiments of wings on each side the 
thorax, and resembling a pair of oblong scales. 
From my own observations I can affirm with cer- 
tainty that some individuals of this species be- 
come winged when arrived at their full growth: 
the wings, which are four in number, being very 
large, of a slightly iridescent appearance, and 
variegated with blackish and brown clouds or 
spots. It is in the beginning of July that this 
change takes place, and at this time several may 
be seen with the wings half grown : in a few days 
they seem to obtain their full size. 
Mr. Derham imagines the ticking sound which 
these animals produce, to be analogous to the 
call of birds to their mates during the breeding- 
season ; and there seems to be no reason for calling 
in question the truth of this observation. I may 
add, that this sound, as well as that produced by 
the Ptinus fatidicus^ or Death-Watch, seems to 
afford a convincing proof of the faculty of hearing 
in insects, which some naturalists have been in- 
clined to deny. 
On the bark of trees, during the decline of 
summer, may be sometimes observed a species of 
winged Termes, extremely resembling the preced- 
ing, but larger, and of a greenisli brown colour, 
with darker variegations; and I am inclined to 
believe that several small species of this genus 
exisi^ which, from their general resemblance to 
each other, have been hitherto confounded^. 
* The Hemerobins pulsatorius of Linnaeus is probably one of 
