62 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1781. 



term. Linneus, having seen or heard ot" only 2 of these orders, has classed the 

 genus erroneously: for he has placed it among the aptera, or insects without 

 wings ; whereas the chief order, that is, the insect in its perfect state, having 4 

 wings without any sting, it belongs to the neuroptera ; in which class it will con- 

 stitute a new genus of many species. 



The different species of this genus resemble each other in form, in their 

 manner of living, and in their good and bad qualities; but differ as much as 

 birds in the manner of building their habitations or -nests, and in the choice of 

 the materials of which they compose them. There are some species which build 

 on the surface of the ground, or part above and part beneath, and 1 or 2 species, 

 perhaps more, that build on the stems or branches of trees, sometimes aloft at a 

 vast height. 



Of every species there are 3 orders: 1st, the working insects, which Mr. S. 

 calls labourers; next the fighting ones, or soldiers, which do no kind of labour; 

 and lastly, the winged ones, or perfect insects, which are male and female, and 

 capable of propagation. These might very appositely be called the nobility or 

 gentry, for they neither labour, nor toil, nor fight, being quite incapable of 

 either, and almost of self-defence. These only are capable of being elected 

 kings or queens; and nature has so ordered it, that they emigrate within a few 

 weeks after they are elevated to this state, and either establish new kingdoms, 

 or perish within a day or two. 



The termes bellicosus, being the largest species, is most remarkable and best 

 known on the coast of Africa. It erects immense buildings of well-tempered 

 clay or earth, which are contrived and finished with such art and ingenuity, that 

 we are at a loss to say, whether they are most to be admired on that account, or 

 for their enormous magnitude and solidity. It is from the two lower orders of 

 this, or a similar species, that Linneus seems to have taken his description of the 

 termes fatalis; and most of the accounts brought home from Africa or Asia, of 

 the white ants, are also taken from a species that are so much alike in external 

 habit and size, and build so much in their manner, that one may almost venture 

 to pronounce them mere variations of the same species. The reason that the 

 larger termites have been most remarked, is obvious; they not only build larger 

 and more curious nests, but are also more numerous, and do infinitely more mis- 

 chief to mankind. When these insects attack such things as we would not wish 

 to have injured, we must consider them as most pernicious; but when they are 

 employed in destroying decayed trees and substances which only encumber the 

 surface of the earth, they may be justly supposed very useful. In this respect 

 they resemble very much the common flies, which are regarded by mankind in 

 general as noxious, and at best as useless beings in the creation; but this is cer- 

 tainly for want of consideration. There are not probably in all nature animals 



