TERMES. 119 



shell, not thicker than writing-paper. The Ter- 

 mites, when they get within a box, often make 

 a nest there, and, being once in possession, de- 

 etroy it at their leisure. " They did so," says 

 Smeathman, " to the pyramidal box which con- 

 tained my compound microscope. It was of 

 mahogany, and I had left it in the store of Go- 

 vernor Campbell of Tobago, for a few months, 

 while I made the tour of the Leeward islands. 

 On my return I found these insects had done 

 much mischief in the store 3 and, among other 

 things, had taken possession of the microscope, 

 and eaten every thing about it except the glass 

 or metal, and the board on which the pedestal 

 is fixed, with the drawers under it, and the 

 things inclosed. The cells were built all round 

 the pedestal and the tube, and attached to it 

 on every side. Another party had taken a 

 liking to the staves of a Madeira cask, and had 

 let out almost a pipe of fine old wine." 



The European species, the Termes pulsato- 

 rium 9 is a common insect in houses, in the sum- 

 mer season, when it is often heard, though 

 seldom seen. The sound it makes resembles 



