118 

 Genus LXXV. TERMES. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna setaceous. Mouth armed with two 

 horny jaws. Palpi four. Eyes two. Legs 

 six, formed for running. 



General Observations, 



Some of the species of this genus have 

 much in their habits and economy to ad- 

 mire, but more to dread. The Termes fatale, 

 or White Ants, are justly termed by Linnseus 

 the scourge of the East. They form curious 

 conical nests, 10 or 12 feet in height, divided 

 into regular apartments, with galleries of com- 

 munication and magazines for provisions. These 

 nests are so strong, that they will bear four 

 men to stand upon them, and in some parts of 

 Africa so numerous, that at a distance they 

 appear like a village belonging to the natives. 

 They inhabit the East Indies, Africa, and South 

 America, and destroy houses, furniture, &c. 

 with such rapidity and industry, that a large 

 beam will be reduced in a few hours to a mere 



