WHITE ANTS. 255 



in a European species ( Termes liicifugiis), found near Bor- 

 deaux, that the soldiers form a distinct race, like the 

 neuter workers among bees and ants, while the working 



Termes bellicosus in the winged state. 



termites are larvae,* which are furnished with strong man- 

 dibles for gnawing ; when they become nymphs, the rudi- 

 ments of four wings appear, which are fully developed in 

 the perfect insects. In this state, they migrate to form 

 new colonies, but the greater number of them perish in a 

 few hours, or become the prey of birds, and even the 

 natives, who fry them as delicacies. " I have discoursed 

 with several genllemen," says Smeathman, "upon the 

 taste of the white ants, and on comparing notes, we have 

 always agreed that they are most delicious and delicate 

 eating. One gentleman compared them to sugared mar- 

 row, another to sugared cream and a paste of sweet 

 almonds. "t 



Mr. Smeathman's very interesting paper affords us the 

 most authentic materials for the further description of 

 these wonderful insects ; and we therefore continue partly 

 to extract from, and partly to abridge, his account. 



The few pairs that are so fortunate as to survive the 

 various casualties that assail them, are usually found by 

 workers (larvae), which, at this season, are running con- 

 tinually on the surface of the ground, ■ on the watch for 

 them. As soon as they discover the objects of their search, 

 they begin to protect them from their surrounding enemies, 

 by inclosing them in a small chamber of clay, where they 

 become the parents of a new community, and are distin- 



* Hist. Nat. Genorale, vol. xiii. p. 60. 



t Smeathman, in Pliil. Trans, vol. Ixxi. p. 169, note. 



