NERVE-WINGED INSECTS. 



381 



and the insect endeavor to escape, its captor instantly makes such 

 a turmoil by tossing up the sand with its closed jaws, and covering 

 each side of the pit with the moving grains, that the insect is 

 tolerably certain to be brought down to the bottom, and is seized 

 by the Ant-lion, who immediately drags it below the sand. When 

 the insect is very strong and struggles hard to escape, the Ant-lion 

 shakes it about as a dog does a rat, and beats it against the ground 

 until it is disabled. 



The Termites, or White Ants, as they are very erroneously 

 called, belong to this order. These insects live in large societies, 

 and build edifices, sometimes of enor- 

 mous size, and almost as hard as stone. 

 Twelve feet in height is quite common, 

 so that were we to compare our works 

 with theirs, St. Peter's in Rome, and St. 

 Paul's in London, fall infinitely short of 

 the edifices - constructed by these little 

 creatures. The common Termes hellicosus, 

 or warlike Termite, inhabits Africa. Not only does it build thcst 



White Anta. 



Habitationp of White Ants. 



