THE WHITE ANTS. 451 



The female lays her eggs in dry and dusty places, 

 where they are likely to meet with the least disturb- 

 ance : these are exceedingly small, and are not un- 

 like the nits or eggs of lice. They are generally 

 hatched about the beginning of March, or a little 

 sooner or later according to the weather. Alter 

 leaving the egg, the animals are so small as scarcely 

 to be discerned without the assistance of a glass. 

 They continue in this larva state, somewhat resem- 

 bling in appearance the mites in cheese, about two 

 months 3 after which they undergo their change. 



They feed on dead flies and other insects ; and, 

 from their numbers and voracity, often very much 

 deface cabinets of natural history. They also live 

 on various other substances, and may frequently be 

 observed hunting for nutritious particles with great 

 care and attention, among the dust in which they are 

 found : turning it over with their heads, and search- 

 ing among it somewhat in the manner of swine. 

 Many of them live through the winter; but during 

 that time, in order to avoid the inconveniences of 

 frost, they bury themselves deep in dust*. 



The Death-watch Termes seems to bear very 

 little relation to the following species. 



THE WHITE ANTS f. 



The animals of this extraordinary community are 

 found in the East Indies, and in many parts of Africa 



Phil. Tran. vol. v.xv'i.. p, 231. -f Termes fatab. 



G g 2 



