VOL. LXXI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 6l 



in Africa, Scantz. By the Portuguese in the Brazils, Coupee or Cutters, from 

 their cutting things in pieces. By this latter name and that of Piercers or Eaters, 

 and similar terms, they are distinguished in various parts of the tropical regions. 



The termites are represented by Linneus as the greatest plagues of both Indies, 

 and are indeed every way between the tropics so deemed, from the vast damages 

 they cause, and the losses which are experienced in consequence of their eating 

 and perforating wooden buildings, utensils, and furniture, with all kinds of 

 household-stuff and merchandize, which are totally destroyed by them, if not 

 timely prevented ; for nothing less hard than metal or stone can escape their de- 

 structive jaws. 



These insects have generally obtained the name of ants, it may be presumed, 

 from the similarity in their manner of living, which is, in large communities 

 which erect very extraordinary nests, for the most part on the surface of the 

 ground, whence their excursions are made through subterraneous passages or 

 covered galleries, which they build whenever necessity obliges, or plunder in- 

 duces, them to march above ground, and at a great distance from their habita- 

 tions carry on a business of depredation and destruction, scarcely credible but to 

 those who have seen it. But though they live in communities, and are like the 

 ants omnivorous; though like them at a certain period they are furnished with 4 

 wings, and emigrate or colonize at the same season; they are by no means the 

 same kind of insects, nor does their form correspond with that of ants in any 

 one state of their existence, which, like most other insects, is changed several 



times. 



The termites resemble the ants also in their provident and diligent labour, but 

 surpass them as well as the bees, wasps, beavers, and all other animals, in the 

 arts of building, as much as the Europeans excel the least cultivated savages. 

 It is more than probable they excel them as much in sagacity and the arts of 

 government; it is certain that they show more substantial instances of their in- 

 genuity and industry than any other animals; and do in fact lay up vast maga- 

 zines of provisions and other stores; a degree of prudence which has of late 

 years been denied, perhaps without reason, to the ants. Such however are the 

 extraordinary circumstances attending their economy and sagacity, that it is diffi- 

 cult to determine, whether they are more worthy of the attention of the curious 

 and intelligent part of mankind on these accounts, or from the ruinous conse- 

 quences of their depredations, which have deservedly procured them the name of 

 Fatalis or Destructor. 



These communities consist of one male and one female, who are generally the 

 common parents of the whole, or greater part, of the rest, and of 3 orders of 

 insects, apparently of very different species, but really the same, which together 

 compose great commonwealths, or rather monarchies, if we may be allowed the 



