66 HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



from its form and appearance in the other two states, that 

 it has never been supposed to be the same animal, but by 

 those who have seen it in the nest; and some of these have 

 distrusted the evidence of their senses. 



In the winged state they are also much altered in their 

 size as well as form. Their bodies now measure between 

 six and seven tenths of an inch in length, and their wings 

 above two inches and a half from tip to tip, and they are 

 equal in bulk to about thirty labourers, or two soldiers. 

 They are now also furnished with two large eyes, one 

 on each side of the head, and very conspicuous ; if they 

 have any before, they are not easily to be distinguished. 

 Probably in the two first states their eyes, if they have any, 

 may be small, like those of moles ; for as they live, like 

 these animals, always under ground, they have as little oc- 

 casion for these organs, and it is not to be wondered at that 

 we do not discover them ; but the case is much altered 

 when they arrive at the winged state, in which they are to 

 roam, though but for a few hours, through the wide air, and 

 explore new and distant regions. In this form the animal 

 comes abroad during or soon after the first tornado, which 

 at the latter end of the dry season proclaims the approach 

 of the ensuing rains, and seldom waits for a second or third 

 shower, if the first, as is generally the case, happens in the 

 night and brings much wet after it. 



The numbers that are to be found the next morning all 

 over the surface of the earth, but particularly on the water, 

 is astonishing ; for their wings are only calculated to carry 

 them a few hours, and after the rising of the sun not one in 

 a thousand is to be found with four wings, unless the morn- 

 ing continues rainy, when here and there a solitary being 

 is seen winging its way from one place to another, as if so- 

 licitous only to avoid its numerous enemies, particularly 

 various species of ants, which are hunting on every spray, 



