416 
TERMES. 
them at a certain period they are furnished with 
four wings, and emigrate or colonize at the same 
season; they are by no means the same kind of 
insects, nor does their form correspond with that 
of Ants in any one state of their existence, which, 
like most other insects, is changed several times. 
The Termites resemble the Ants also in their 
provident and diligent labour, but surpass them 
as well as the Bees, Wasps, Beavers, and all other 
animals which I have ever heard of, in the arts of 
building, as much as the Europeans excel the 
least cultivated savages. It is more than probable 
they excel them as much in sagacity and the arts 
of government ; it is certain they shew more sub- 
stantial instances of their ingenuity and industry 
than any other animals; and do in fact lay up 
vast magazines of provisions and other stores; a 
degree of prudence which has of late years been 
denied, perhaps without reason, to the Ants. 
‘‘ Their communities consist of one male and 
one female (who are generally the common pa- 
rents of the whole, or greater part, of the rest), 
and of three orders of insects, apparently of very 
different species, but really the same, which to- 
gether compose great commonwealtlis, or rather 
monarchies, if I may be allowed the term. 
“ The great Liniueus, having seen or heard of 
but two of these orders, has classed the genus er- 
roneously; for he has placed it among the Aptera, 
or insects without wings; whereas the chief order, 
that is to say, the insect in its perfect state, having 
