THE COASTS OF SAINTONGE. 359 



of the year; but about the end of May they were 

 observed to have diminished very considerably both 

 in numbers and size ; and soon after this period the 

 old insects had all disappeared and given place to a 

 new generation of workers and soldiers; it would, 

 therefore, seem that this class lives about a year 

 after the final metamorphosis. The two forms of 

 Nymphas appear in July ; the first form undergo 

 their final metamorphosis in the following May ; and 

 the second form continue unchanged for a year be- 

 yond that period ; hence, the perfect individuals 

 live about twenty months before they attain their 

 ultimate state.* 



It would appear from M. LespeV observations 

 that all the different classes of Termites resemble 



* These Nymphas belong, as already observed, to two forms; 

 those of the first form have long and broad wing-cases, which cover 

 all the anterior portion of the abdomen. They are considerably 

 larger than the workers, and their heads, which are proportionally 

 longer, are of a white colour, and are furnished with eyes. Those 

 of the second form are of less frequent occurrence than the former, 

 but they are both larger and heavier, and are distinguished by their 

 shorter wing-cases. They are at first of a yellowish white colour, 

 but they gradually acquire a darker hue, and in August, when they 

 undergo their final metamorphosis, they are of a decided brown 

 colour. The Nymphas of the first form, or those with long wing- 

 cases, begin to change their colour, although not very decidedly, 

 early in May ; and, in about a fortnight afterwards, they are meta- 

 morphosed into winged insects, constituting the section of the perfect 

 insects which M. Lespes denominated les petits rois et petites reines. 

 The Nymphas of the second form, or those with short wing-cases, do 

 not attain the perfect state till the month of August or September. 

 After losing their wings, which they retain only for a few days, 

 they become the parent kings and queens of new communities. 



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