CH. VIII.] THE WHITE ANT. 145 



said to be more trouble in conquering' these insects, 

 than all the savages put together ; for every contri- 

 vance hitherto devised serves only to put them to 

 flight, not banish them effectually." 



CHAPTER VIII. 



TERMITES, OR WHITE ANTS. 



Their Destructivencss — Clear the Ground of aU dead vegetable Matter 

 — Societies composed of four sorts of Individuals — Eaten as Food by 

 the Indians — Appear in countless Myriads at the end of the Rainy 

 Season — Prodigious Fertility of the Queen — Size, Form, and Interior 

 Arrangements of their Hills — Marching Ants. 



Almost all that we know concerning the habits 

 and instincts of these curious animals is derived 

 from an account published by Smeathman, in the 

 "Philosophical Transactions" for 1781. The pro- 

 ceedings of this insect-tribe, as detailed in that 

 paper, are so singular, that they cannot fail to prove 

 interesting to the reader. 



The termites are represented by Linnaeus as the 

 greatest plagues of both Indies, and indeed, between 

 the Tropics, they are justly so considered, from the 

 vast damages and losses which they cause : they 

 perforate and eat into wooden buildings, utensils, and 

 furniture, with all kinds of household stuff, and 

 merchandise; these they totally destroy, if their 

 progress be not timely stopped. A person residing 

 in the equinoctial regions, although not incited by 

 curiosity, must be very fortunate if the safety of his 

 property do not compel him to observe their habits. 



" When they find their way," says Kirby, " into 

 houses or warehouses, nothing less hard than metal 

 or glass escapes their ravages. Their favourite 

 I.— N 



