S2 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



further particulars of their history, which will, I hope^ 

 give you a better opinion of them. 



The majority of these animals are natives of tropical 

 countries, though two species are indigenous to Eu- 

 rope; one of which, thought to have been imported, is 

 come so near to us as Bourdeaux. The fullest ac- 

 count hitherto given of their history is that of Mr. 

 Smeathman, in the Philosophical Transactions for 1781 ; 

 which, since it has in many particulars been confirmed 

 by the observations of succeeding- naturalists, though 

 in some things he was evidently mistaken, I shall 

 abridge for you, correcting him where he appears to 

 be in error, and adding from Latreille, and the MS. 

 of a French naturalist resident on the spot, kindly fur- 

 nished by W. J. Hooker, esq.'' what they have ob- 

 served with respect to those of Bourdeaux and Ceylon. 

 The white ants, though they be-long to the Neuroplcra 

 order, borrow their instinct from the hymenopterous 

 social tribes, and in conjunction with the ants {Formica) 

 connect the two orders. Their societies consist of five 

 different descriptions of individuals — workers or larvae 

 — nymphs or pupa? — neuters or soldiers — males, and 

 females. 



1. The workers or larvaB, answering to the hymeno- 

 pterous neuters, are the most numerous and at the 

 same time most active part of the community ; upon 

 whom devolves the office of erecting and repairing the 

 buildings, collecting- provision, attending upon the fe- 

 male, conveying the eggs when laid to Avhat Smeath- 



* Author of a very interesting Tour in Iceland, a sjjlendid Monograph 

 on tlip Genus Jungennannia, &o. 



