NEUROPTERA. 413 



form so many roads, all leading to the centre of their domicil, and these bodies 

 thus mined, and retaining nothing but a superficial bark or covering, soon 

 crumble into dust. If compelled by any insurmountable obstacle to leave 

 their dwellings, they construct tubes or ways which still keep them from sight. 

 The nests or domicils of several species are exterior, but have no visible 

 opening. Sometimes they are raised above the surface of the ground, in the 

 form of pyramids or turrets, occasionally surmounted with a capital or very 

 solid roof, which, by their height and number, resemble a little village. 

 Sometimes they form a large globular mass on the branches of trees. Another 

 sort of individuals, the neuters, also called soldiers, defend the domicil. They 

 are distinguished by their stouter and more elongated head, the mandibles of 

 which are also longer, narrower, and considerably crossed. They are much 

 less numerous than the others, and remain near the surface of the habitation, 

 are the first that present themselves in case of an attack, and pinch with con- 

 siderable strength. It is also said that they force the labourers to work. The 

 semi-nymphs have rudiments of wings, and in other respects resemble the larvae. 



Having become perfect insects, the Termites leave their original retreat, and 

 fly off at evening or during the night hi incalculable numbers. At sunrise, 

 they lose their wings, which are dried up, fall to the ground, and are mostly 

 devoured by birds, lizards, and the rest of their enemies. 



In the remaining Termetinae the tarsi are biarticulated, and the labial palpi 

 indistinct and very short. The antennae consist of about ten joints, the first 

 segment of the trunk is very small, and the inferior wings are smaller than 

 the others. They form the genus 



Psocus, Lalre'ille, Fabrlcius, 



And are very small insects with a short and extremely soft body that is 

 frequently inflated, or as if hump-backed. Their head is large, their antennae 

 setaceous, and the maxillary palpi salient. Their wings are tectiform and but 

 slightly reticulated or simply veined. They are extremely active, and live 

 under the bark of trees, in wood, &c. The following species is commonly 

 found in books and collections of insects and plants. 



P. puhatorius. Usually apterous ; yellowish white ; eyes and some small 

 spots on the abdomen, russet It was thought to produce that faint noise 

 resembling the tick of a watch frequently heard in our houses, and of which 

 we have spoken while on the genus Anobium thence the origin of its 

 specific name. 



Dr. Leach separated the genus ATROPT.IS from Psoccs from the circumstance 

 of the tarsi being three-jointed, and the wings wanting. The 

 type of the genus is the Term.es pulsatorium of Linnaeus, a 

 minute insect, commonly met with amongst old books, and upon 

 the paper on walls. It is of a dirty white colour, with the eyes 

 and a row of spots long the abdomen reddish. Its specific name 

 alludes to the noise which it makes, similar to the ticking of a 

 watch, and which has been superstitiously said to precede death. 



