PSE UDONE UROP TERA. 77 



short wings which extend only two-thirds the length of the ab- 

 domen. 



In England certain stone-flies are much used by anglers. One, 

 Ckloroptrla vlridiS) is well known under the name "Yellow Sally," 

 and a species of Ncmoura is called the " Willow-fly.' 



Family IV. 

 (Termites, or White-ants!) 



The Termites, or white-ants, are social insects, which live in large 

 societies, consisting of several distinct forms of individuals. They 

 are chiefly tropical; but there is one species which is commonly dis- 

 tributed over the United States east of the Rocky Mountains; and 

 several others occur farther west. 



These insects can be easily recognized by the pale color of t he- 

 greater number of individuals of which a colony is composed, by the 

 fact of their living in large ant-like colonies, and by the form of tile- 

 abdomen, which is broadly joined to the thorax instead of bt 

 pedunculate as in the ants. 



The Termites are commonly called white-ants on account of 

 their color and of a resemblance in form and habits to the true ants. 

 Thu . however, are only very general. In structure 



the Termites and ants are widely separated ; as the former 

 among the lowest of winged insects, while the latter stand near the 

 head of the series. In habits there is little more in common than 

 that both are social, and the fact that in each the function of repro- 

 duction is restricted t<> a few individuals, while the greater number 

 differ in form from the sexually mature males and females, and are 

 specially adapted to the performance of the labors of the com- 

 munity. 



This development of distinct castes f<r the performance of 

 cial functions is carried much farther among the Termite 

 among the ants and other social II :;i; ;' In the l.itt 



>nly three forms: n. s or queens, and workers, \\lmh 



develop des. With 







It ,i . eason of th- 



be found a large number of individuals "i tc color, 



Termltid: Ttrmtt, a white-ant. 



