TEPtMES. 
430 
a greater part transformed from wood to clay 
as solid and as liard as many kinds of free-stone 
used for building in England. It is much the 
same when the Termites bellicosi get into a chest 
or trunk containing cloaths and other things ; if 
the weiglit above is great, or they are afraid of 
Ants or other enemies, and have time, tliey carry 
their pipes through, and replace a great part with 
clay, running their galleries in various directions. 
The tree Termites, indeed, when they get within 
a box, often make a nest there, and being once in 
possession destroy it at their leisure. They did so 
to the pyramidal box which contained my com^- 
pound microscope. It was of mahogany, and I 
Iiad left it in the store of Governor Campbell of 
Tobago, for a few months, while I made the tour 
of the Leeward Islands. On my return I found 
these insects had done much mischief in the store, 
and, among other things, had taken possession of 
the microscope, and eaten every thing about it 
except the glass or metal, and the board on which 
the pedestal is fixed, with the drawers under it, 
and the things inclosed. The cells were built all 
round the pedestal and the tube, and attached 
to it on every side. All tlie glasses which were 
covered with the w’ooden substance of their nests 
retained a cloiid of a gummy nature mion them 
that was not easily got off, and the lacipier or 
burnish with wliicli the brass work was covered 
was totally spoiled. Another party had taken a 
liking to the staves of a Madeira cask, and had 
}ct out almost a pipe of fine old wine, If the 
