292 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



to think from what he observed in a European 

 species (1'ermes lucifugus), found near Bordeaux, 

 that the soldiers form a distinct race, like the neuter 

 workers among bees and ants, while the working 

 termites are larvae,* which are furnished with strong 

 mandibles for gnawing ; when they become nymphs, 

 the rudiments of four wings appear, which are fully 

 developed in the perfect insects. In this state, they 

 migrate to form new colonies, but the greater number 

 of them perish in a few hours, or become the prey of 

 birds, and even the natives, who fry them as delicacies. 

 " I have discoursed with several gentlemen," says 

 Smeathman, " upon the taste of the white ants, and. 

 on comparing notes, we have always agreed that they 

 are most delicious and delicate eating. One gentle- 

 man compared them to sugared marrow, another to 

 sugared cream and a paste of sweet almonds."-)- 



Mr. Smeathman's very interesting paper affords us 

 the most authentic materials for the further descrip- 

 tion of these wonderful insects ; and we therefore 

 continue partly to extract from, and partly to abridge, 

 his account. 



The few pairs that are so fortunate as to survive 

 the various casualties that assail them are usually 

 found by workers (larva?) which, at this season, are 

 running continually on the surface of the ground, 

 on the watch for them. As soon as they discover 

 the objects of their search, they begin to protect 

 them from their surrounding enemies, by enclosing 

 them in a small chamber of clay, where they 

 become the parents of a new community, and are 

 distinguished from the other inhabitants of the nest, 

 by the title of king and queen. Instinct directs 

 the attention of these labouring insects to the pre- 

 servation of their race, in the protection of this 



* Hist. Nat. Generate, vol. xiii. p. 66. 

 f Smeathman in Phil. Trans, vol. lxxi. p. 169, note. 



