TKRMES. 
437 
thi’ough tliat })art of the track which is left un- 
covered. In a few minutes you will perceive 
them rebuilding the arch, and by the next morn- 
ing they will have restored their gallery for three 
or four yards in length, if so much has been 
ruined ; and upon opening it again will be foiyid 
as numerous as ever, under it, passing both ways. 
If you continue to destroy it several times, they 
will at length seem to give up the point, and build 
another in a different direction ; but, if the old 
one led to some favourite plunder, in a few days 
will rebuild it again ; and, unless you destroy 
their nest, never totally abandon their gallery. 
“ The Termites arborum^ those which build in 
trees, frequently establish their nests within the 
roofs and other parts of houses, to which they do 
considerable damage, if not timely extirpated. 
‘‘ The large species are, however, not only much 
more destructive, but more difficult to be guarded 
against, since they make their approaches chiefly 
under ground, descending below the foundations 
of houses and stores at several feet from the sur- 
face, and rising again either in the floors, or en- 
tering at the bottoms of the posts, of which the 
sides of the buildings are composed, bore quite 
through them, following the course of the fibres 
to the top, or making lateral perforations and ca- 
vities here and there as they proceed. 
“ While some are employed in gutting the 
posts, others ascend from them, entering a rafter 
or some other jiart of the roof. If they once find 
the thatch, which seems to be a favourite food. 
