30 TERMITES, OR 



attack part of a peach that was lying on the ground. 

 After having satisfied their appetites, they began to 

 endeavour to remove the remainder to their city ; but 

 finding it too unwieldy for their powers, they divided 

 it into pieces, and each one trudged off with its load. 

 Soon after, another party seized a beetle, which was 

 likewise a weight above their match: they had re- 

 course to the former expedient of division. They 

 sawed off his limbs, and carried him away in triumph; 

 but not without other difficulties to subdue, for a small 

 ridge intervened between them and their nest, which, 

 like good pioneers, they levelled in one spot, and then 

 proceeded with their treasure. 



Rachel, perceiving the interest I took in their move- 

 ments, proposed entertaining me with an account, 

 selected from the papers of Mr. Smeathman, concern- 

 ing the termites, an insect that abounds in the tropi- 

 cal climates, the habits of which are very similar to 

 those of the ant, but still more wonderful. I enclose 

 a copy of it for you, since you tell me that my letters 

 have stimulated you to look into the book of nature. 

 I think it must afford you much amusement. I am 

 glad to hear, that, during your retreat in the country, 

 you turn your attention to the same kind of objects- 

 that now form my daily recreation, as it gives me 

 some hope that the simple incidents of my rural life 

 will not be wholly uninteresting to you. Rachel de- 



