WHITE ANTS. 31 



sires you will admit her into the circle of your friends^ 

 and ventures to unite her love with that of your affec- 

 tionate 



Caroline. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE TERMITES, OR WHITE ANT OF 

 TROPICAL CLIMATES.* 



The attention of mankind is almost equally drawn 

 to those creatures that are either particularly useful, 

 and therefore brought under their observation, or so 

 destructive as to render precautions against their 

 ravages necessary. Rapacious beasts are not the only 

 enemies against which men are obliged to contend. 

 Insects of various species, that, from their diminutive 

 size and apparent insignificance, appear, at first sight, 

 to be incapable of injuring a creature that is endowed 

 with reason, and is justly termed lord of the creation, 

 are, nevertheless, able to cause him much inconveni- 

 ence. For it has often happened that the farmer has 

 been disappointed of his harvest, that a nation has 

 been reduced to a scanty portion of food, and other 

 calamities have arisen, from the depredations of in- 



* The principal part of this account is taken from Mr. Smeath- 



