940 
Their communities consist of one 
maleand one female (who are yene- 
rally the common parents of the 
whole, or greater part, of the rest,) 
and of three orders of insects, appa- 
rently of very different species, but 
really the same, which together 
compose great commonwealths, or 
rather monarchies, if I may be 
allowed the term. 
The great Linnzus, having seen or 
heard at but two of these orders, has 
classed the genus erroneously; for 
he has placed it among the Aptera, 
or insects without wings; where- 
as, the chief order, that is to say, 
the insect in its perfect state, having 
four wings without any sting, it 
belongs to the Neuroptera; in which 
class it will constitute a new genus 
of many species. 
The different species of this genus 
resemble each other in form, in their 
manner of living, and in their good 
and bad qualities ; but differ as much 
as birds in the manner of building 
their habitations or nests, and in the 
choice of the materials of which they 
compose them. 
There are some species which 
build upon the surface of the ground, 
or part above and part beneath, 
and one or two species, perhaps 
more,‘that build on the stems or 
branches of trees, sometimes aloft at 
a vast height. 
Of every species there are three 
orders: first, the working insects, 
which, for brevity, I shall generally 
call labourers; next, the fighting 
ones, or soldiers, which do no kind 
of labour ; and last ofall, the winged 
ones, or perfect insects, which are 
male and female, and capable of 
propagation. These might very 
appositely be called the nobility or 
gentry, for they neither labour, or 
toil, or fight, being quite incapable 
tee; 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 18061 
of either, and almost of self-defence. 
These only are capable of being 
elected kings or queens ; and nature 
has so ordered it, that they emigrate 
within a few weeks after they are 
elevated to this state, and either. 
establish new kingdoms, or perish — 
within a day or two. 
The termes bellicosus being the 
Jargest species, is most remarkable 
and best known on the coast of 
Africa. It erects immense buildings 
of well-tempered clay or earth, 
which arecontrived and finished with 
such art and ingenuity, that we are 
at a loss to say, whether they are 
most to be admired on that account, 
or for their enormous magnitude and 
solidity. It is from the two lower 
orders of this, or a similar species, | 
that Linnzus seems to have taken hig 
description of the termes fatalis ; 
and most of the accounts brought 
home from Africa or Asia, of the 
white ants, are also taken from a 
Species that are so much alike in 
external habit and size, and build so 
much in their manner, that one may 
almost venture to pronounce them 
mere variations of the same species. 
My general account of the fermites is © 
taken from observations made on the 
termes bellicosus, to which I was 
induced by the greater facility and 
certainty with which they could be 
made, : 
The nests of this species are so 
numerous, all over the island of 
Bananas, and the adjacent continent 
of Africa, that it is scarce. possible 
to stand upon any open place, such 
as a rice plantation, or other clear 
spot, where one of these buildings is 
not to be seen within fifty paces, 
and frequently two or three are to 
be seen almost close to each other. 
In some parts near Senegal, as men- 
tioned by Mons. Adanson, their 
number, 
