«88 JAMAICA. 



houles. I have fecn fome near four feet in height, and eighteen 

 inches thick, in the broadefl: fe£lion. They are pear-fhaped, round, 

 biggeft in tlie upper part, and diminifliing towards the bottom. 

 They feem compofed of particles of wood, and a refinous fubftance, 

 which hardens in the air, and is indifibluble in water ; for no rain 

 can penetrate into them. Thefe infe6ls never work abroad, but 

 carry on their traverfes and approaches, to and from their habita- 

 tion, under vaulted paffages, which are covered with a cruft, pro- 

 -bably compofed, in a great meafure, of fimilar materials. As each 

 hive, or neft, contains two fets of differently- formed ants, it is 

 probable that the diftindtions are fexual, as their occupations are 

 Jbmewhat different. Their living always fecluded from the air 

 has been thought to account for the white colour of their bodies, 

 and tendernefs of their Ikins. One clafs has a large, round, whitirti 

 head ; but the head of the other is covered with a fliining, dark- 

 brown ikin, of a horny fubftance, and pyri-form, being round 

 where it joins the body, and terminating in a point. Upon breaking 

 one of thefe caufeways, a party immediately run to repair the 

 breach, which they perform very expeditioufly in the following 

 manner. The former fort apply their tails to the broken edge, 

 and let fall a fmall drop of glutinous matter, and, then with- 

 ■drawing, make way for the others, who work it about with alter- 

 nate motions of their head, as a mafon ufes his trowel, to incor- 

 porate and make it firmly adhere, Succeffive labourers continue 

 the work, till the hole is entirely clofed up. This operation can- 

 not be well obferved without the affiftance of a glafs, and is equally 

 curious and entertaining. 



Thefe infe<Sls are not very troublefome, except in places newly- 

 cleared from their native wood, in order to be fettled. When they 

 -invade houfes, their track is conduded with fo much art, as fre- 

 quently to efcape obfcrvation ; and they often cxhauft the houfe- 

 timbers of their fubftance, deftroy old deeds, cloaths, and the like, 

 when no fufplcion of their prefence has occafioncd any fearch to 

 be made for them. When they attack books, they generally eat 

 through all the leaves, and befmear the edges with their glue, or 

 mortar, which prevents their being afterwards feparated without 

 tearing. 



The 



