306 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
scene to which Iam eager to introduce you; but the following observations 
of M. P. Huber on this subject are so just and striking, that I cannot re. 
frain from copying them. ‘ - 
“ The history of insects that live in solitude consists of their generation, 
their peculiar habits, the metamorphoses they undergo, their manner of 
life under each successive form, the stratagems for the attack of their 
enemies, and the skill with which they construct their habitation : but that 
of insects which form numerous societies is not confined to some remark- 
able proceedings, to some peculiar talent; it offers new relations, which 
arise from common interest, from the equality or superiority of rank, from 
the part which each member supports in the society ; and all these relations 
suppose a connection between the different individuals of which it econ- 
sists that can scarcely exist but by the intervention of language: for such 
may be called every mode of expressing their wishes, their wants, and 
even their ideas, if that name may be given to the impulses of instinct. It 
would be difficult to explain in any other way that concurrence of all 
wills to one end, and that species of harmony which the whole of their 
institution exhibits.” 
The great end of the societies of insects being the rapid multiplication of 
the species, Providence has employed extraordinary means to secure the 
fulfilment of this object, by creating a particular order of individuals in 
each society, which, freed from sexual pursuits, may give themselves 
wholly to labour, and thus absolve the females from every employment but 
that of furnishing the society from time to time with a sufficient supply of 
eggs to keep up the population to its proper standard. In the case of the 
Termites, the office of working for the society, as'these insects belong to 
an order whose metamorphosis is semi-complete, devolves upon the larve ; 
the neuters, unless these should prove to be the larye of males, being the 
soldiers of the community. 
From this circumstance perfect societies may be divided into two 
classes; the first including those whose workers are /arv@, and the second 
those whose workers are neuters.1_ The white ants belong to the former 
of these classes, and the social Hymenoptera to the latter. ; 
Before I begin with the history of the societies of white ants, I must 
notice a remark that has been made applying to societies in general —that 
numbers are essential to the full development of the instinct of social 
animals, This has been observed by Bonnet with respect to the beaver?; 
by Reaumur of the hive-bee ; and by M. P. Huber of the humble-bee. 
Amongst hymenopterous social insects, however, the observation seems 
not universally applicable, but only under particular circumstances ; for in 
incipient societies of ants, humble-bees, and wasps, one female lays the 
foundation of them at first by herself, and the first brood of neuters that is 
hatched is very small. 
T have on a former occasion given you some account of the devastation 
produced by the white ants, or Termites, the species of which constitute 
1 J employ occasionally the term neuters, though it is not perfectly proper, for 
the sake of convenience ;—strictly speaking, they may rather be regarded as im~ 
perfect or sterile females, Yet, certainly, as the imipérfection of their organisation 
unfits them for sexual purposes, the term neuter is not absolutely improper. 
2 (uv, ix. 163, . 
5 M. P. Huber in Linn, Trans, vi, 256. Reaum, vy. 
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