836 INSECTA — TERMITES. 



ing water is poured upon them. Those that are dried upon hot plates are 

 the blackest. What we call the cochineal are only the females, for the 

 males are a sort of fly. They are used both for dyeing and medicine, and 

 are said to have much the same virtue as the kermes, though they are 

 now seldom used alone, but are mixed with other things for the sake of the 

 color. 



TERMITES, OR WHITE ANTS.' 



Of this curious insect, Mr Smeathman has given, in the Philosophical 

 Transactions, so full and interesting an account, that we cannot do better 

 than quote from it. " Of a great many curious parts of the creation, (says 

 he,) which I met with in Guinea, the termites, or white ants, seemed most 

 worthy of minute attention. 



" The size and figure of their buildings have attracted the notice of manv 

 travellers, and yet the world has not hitherto been furnished with a tolerable 

 description of them, though, when we come to consider the wonderful order 

 of these insects, and of their subterraneous cities, they will appear foremosl 

 on the list of the wonders of the creation. 



" These insects are known by various names. They belong to the termes 

 of Linnaeus, and other systematic naturalists. 



" By the English, in the windward parts of Africa, they are called bugga 

 bugs. In the West Indies, wood lice, wood ants, or white ants. By the 

 French, at Senegal, vague vagues. In the West Indies, poux de bois, or 

 fourmis blanches. By the Portuguese in the Brazils, coupee, or cutters, 

 from their cutting things in pieces. By this latter name, and that of piercers 

 or eaters, and similar terms, they are distinguished in various parts of the 

 tropical regions. 



" Of every species of the termites there are three orders ; first, the work- 

 ing insects, which I shall call laborers ; next, the fighting ones, or soldiers, 

 which do no kind of labor; and, last of all, the winged ones, or perfect in- 

 sects, which are male and female, and capable of propagation. These might 

 very appositely be called the nobility or gentry, for they neither labor nor 

 fight, being quite incapable of either, and almost of self-defence. These 

 only are capable of being elected kings or queens ; and nature has so order- 

 ed it, that they emigrate within a few weeks, after they are elevated to 

 this state, and either establish new kingdoms, or perish within a day or two. 



" The termes bellicosus, being the largest species, is best known on the 

 coast of Africa. It erects immense buildings of well-tempered clay or earth, 



1 The order of Neuroptera have four naked, reticulated, transparent wines ; mouth pro- 

 per ior mastication ; jaws and lips straight, extended ; joints of the tarsi various, generally 

 entire. ° ' 



