NET-WINGED INSECTS. 265 
Jaeger saw great numbers of them once in the Raritan — 
River, near Trenton; but the greatest display of them 
that he ever witnessed was in the River Neva, in Russia. 
“The light of the sun,” he says, “‘ was intercepted as in a 
thick fog, so much so that nothing could be distinguished 
at the distance of a few yards. The atmosphere had 
something the appearance it presents in a violent snow- 
storm, and thousands of Day-flies fell into our boat and 
all over our persons; while the fishes in the water, the 
birds in the air, and the domestic fowls upon the shore, 
were every where feasting upon them.” He farther says, 
*‘ In the evening these flies are strongly attracted toward 
a light, perhaps more so than any other nocturnal insect, 
and it is very amusing to see the crowds of them that fly 
through an opén window and dance around the light, 
making a variety of turns, and circles, and waltzes. They 
fly so close together, and glisten with such splendor, that 
the observer sees a ribbon of gold continually revolving 
around the light, or imagines a celestial globe of living 
circles revolving in every direction, while the light repre- 
sents the central sun.” 
454. The Termites, or White Ants, are the only family 
of the order Neuroptera that live in communities with a 
regular social organization. They are, with some few ex- 
ceptions, confined to tropical climates. Next to the Lo- 
custs, they are the most destructive of insects, as not only 
food, but clothing, trees, fences, and even houses, are de- 
voured by them. One species has lately done great dam- 
age in France. While they are thus destructive, they 
are, considering their size, the greatest of all builders, go- 
ing far beyond man in this respect. Their habitations 
are some ten or twelve feet high, having much the shape 
of a sugar-loaf. They are built of clay, which these in- 
sects in some way render as hard as some kinds of stone. 
There are various apartments and winding passages in 
this dwelling, and there are passages dug in different di- 
rections under ground, all lined with the hardened clay. 
M 
