254 IXSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



cemented with gums, as a security from the attacks of 

 their enemies, particularly the common ant, which, being 

 defended by a strong, horny shell, is more than a match 

 for them ; and when it can get at them, rapaciously seizes 

 them, and drags them to its nest for food for its young 

 brood. If an}^ accident breaks down part of their walls, 

 they repair the breach with all speed. • Instinct guides 

 them to perform their office in the creation, by mostly con- 

 fining their attacks to trees that are beginning to decay, or 

 such timber as has been severed from its roots for use, and 

 would decay in time, Vigorous, healthy trees do not re- 

 quire to be destroyed, and, accordingly, these consumers 

 have no taste for them.* 



M. Adanson describes the termites of Senegal as con- 

 structing covert ways along the surface of wood which they 

 intend to attack ; but though we have no reason to distrust 

 so excellent a naturalist, in describing what he saw, it is 

 certain that they more commonly eat their way into the 

 interior of the wood, and afterwards furm the galleries, 

 when they find that they have destroyed the wood till it 

 will no longer afford them protection. 



But it is time that we should come to their principal 

 building, which may, with some propriety, be called a 

 city ; and, according to the method we have followed in 

 other instances, we shall trace their labours from the com- 

 mencement. We shall begin with the operations of the 

 species which may be appropriately termed the AVarrior 

 {Termesfatalis, Linn. ; 2\ bellicosus, Smeath.) 



We must premise, that though they have been termed 

 white ants, they do not belong to the same order of insects 

 with our ants ; yet they have a'slight resemblance to ants 

 in their form, but more in their economy. Smeathman, to 

 whom we owe our chief knowledge of the genus, describes 

 them as consisting of kings, queens, soldiers, and workers, 

 and is of opinion that the workers are larvae, the soldiers 

 nymph^e, and the kings and queens the perfect insects. In 

 this opiuion he coincides with Sparrmannf and others; 

 but Latreille is inclined to think, from what he observed 

 * Smeatlinian. f Quoted by De Geer, vol. vii. 



