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CHAPTER XVIII. 



BUILDING INSECTS. 



fhe Termite, or White Ant— General habits of the insect— African Termites 

 and their homes — Termites as articles of food— American Termites — Mr. 

 Bates account of their habits — European Termites — Their ravages in France 

 and Spain— M. de Quatrefages and his history of the Termites of Rochefort 

 and La Rochelle— The Trypoxylon of South America— The Pelopceus 

 and its curious nest— Mr. Stone's Wasp nests and their history — Difference 

 of material— The Foraging Ants of South America and their various 

 species — Nests and habits of the Foraging Ants — The Agricultural Ant 

 of Texas — Dr. Lincecum's accounts of its habits. 



We now pass to the many insects which may be classed among 

 the Builders. The reader will probably notice that several of 

 the true builders are omitted in this department, but will find 

 them under the head of Social Insects. 



Of the Building insects the Termite, or White Ant, as it 

 is popularly and wrongly called, is the acknowledged head and 

 chief. There are certain other insects that erect habitations 

 which are truly wonderful, but there is not one that approaches 

 the Termite in the size of its building or the stone-like solidity 

 of the structure. 



The history of the Termites is so complicated, and so full of 

 incident, that I might occupy several hundred pages of this 

 work in describing them and their nests, and yet not have 

 exhausted the subject. I shall, therefore, give a general sketch 

 of the Termites and their habits, and then relate a few details 

 concerning the species which are found in Africa, Asia, America, 

 and Europe. 



In the first place, the reader must understand that the Termite 

 is not an ant at all, but belongs to a totally different order of 



