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 open 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. 



