THE WHITE ANTS. 4j3 



in a strong horny head, which is larger than all the 

 rest of the body. 



The insect of the third order, or in its perfect 

 state, is still more remarkable. The head, the tho- 

 rax, and the abdomen, differ almost entirely from 

 the same parts in the labourers and soldiers. The 

 animals are besides now furnished with four large 

 brownish transparent wings, by which they are en- 

 abled, at the proper season, to emigrate, and to 

 establish new settlements. They are now also 

 greatly altered in their size as well as figure, and 

 have acquired the powers of propagating the 

 species. Their bodies now measure near three 

 quarters of an inch in length, their wings, from tip 

 to tip, above two inches and a half, and their bulk 

 is equal to that of thirty labourers, or two soldiers. 

 Instead of active, industrious, and rapacious little 

 animals, when they arrive at their perfect state, they 

 become innocent, helpless, and dastardly. Their 

 numbers are great, but their enemies are still more 

 numerous : they are devoured by birds, by every 

 species of ants, by carnivorous reptiles, and even by 

 the inhabitants of many parts of Africa. After such 

 devastation it seems surprising that even a single 

 pair should escape. ft Some, however," says Mr. 

 Smeathman, " are so fortunate ; and being found by 

 some of the labouring insects, that are continually 

 running about the surface of the ground under their 

 covered galleries, are elected Kings and Queens of 

 new states ; all those, which are not so elected and 

 preserved, certainly perish. The manner in which 

 these labourers protect the happy pair from their in- 

 G S3 



