360 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



each other in their earliest stage ; but the difference 

 between the neuter and the sexual individuals begins 

 already to be visible during the second condition of 

 metamorphosis, the sexual individuals exhibiting, 

 even at that early period, traces of wings. 



On the workers devolves not only the labour of 

 constructing the common habitation of the com- 

 munity, but also that of attending upon the Larvas 

 and Nymphas, and probably also on the kings and 

 queens. The metamorphosis of the Nymphas seems 

 especially to call forth all their activity ; for at these 

 times the whole community is in a state of commo- 

 tion, and even at the moment when the larval 

 workers and soldiers are undergoing their final 

 metamorphosis, the old workers may be seen busily 

 employed in assisting their infantine brethren to 

 disengage themselves from their skins. It would 

 seem that the commonly received idea that the 

 soldiers exert a supervision over the workers is not 

 correct, at least in reference to the Termes lucifugus, 

 and M. Lespes is anxious to make it understood that 

 his remarks apply solely to that species. The sol- 

 diers of T. lucifugus are very different from those 

 described by Smeathman ; for their bite is not suffi- 

 ciently virulent to inflict an injury, excepting on 

 very small insects ; and although in the combats 

 waged between the Termites and true Ants, the 

 soldiers exhibit great courage, and never let go their 

 hold until they have severed their prey in two with 

 their formidable pincers, they are generally van- 

 quished and overcome by the numbers of their small 



