RAVAGES OF THE TERMITE. 



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within is disclosed. In the British Museum is an example of 



the ravages of the Termites, which is so 



remarkable that it is here given to the 



reader. The piece of timber in question 



formed the lintel of a door in the 



Government offices at Jamestown. 



It was originally a large square beam, 

 but the Termites made their way into it, 

 and reduced it to the singular condition 

 which is here shown. The manner in 

 which the insects have set to work is 

 very curious. After boring a hole into 

 the beam, they began to eat the softer 

 portions of the wood, avoiding for the 

 present all the knots, so as to leave them 

 projecting exactly as they grew in the 

 tree. Having done this, they had begun 

 to destroy the knots themselves, by boring 

 tunnels into them, so that there is scarcely 

 a knot without one or two holes in it. 

 When they had proceeded thus far, the 

 mischief was discovered and the damaged 

 lintel removed and sent to England, as 

 an example of the havoc which Termites 

 can work. 



Even furniture is not safe, especially if 

 it be left undisturbed for a few days. 

 Suppose, for example, that these insects 

 have found their way into a house, and a 

 table has been negligently left without 

 having its feet placed in saucers of water. 

 The Termites will begin by boring a hole 

 through the planking of the floor, and 

 into the leg of the table. They will then 

 hollow out that table so completely, that 

 if a weight be placed upon it there is a 

 crash and a smash, and nothing remains 

 of the table but a heap of splinters and a 

 cloud of dust. 



Several species of Termites exist in 



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Fig. 182. — Lintel of Door, 

 eaten by Termites. 



