Microscopical Essays*: 



As no in feels exceed the termites in their wonderful ceconomy% 

 wife contrivances, and ftupendous buildings, it will he proper to, 

 give the reader fome account of them, which we are enabled to 

 do from the excellent paper defcribing them, which was written 

 by the late Mr. Smeathman, and publifhed in the Philofophical 

 Tranfaciions for the year 



The termites are reprefented by Linnaeus as the greater! 

 plagues of both Indies, and are indeed every way between the- 

 tropics fo deemed, from the vaft damages they caufe, and the 

 lofies which are experienced, in confequence of their eating and, 

 perforating wooden buildings, utenfils, furniture, Sec. which arc 

 totally deflroyed by them, if not timely prevented ; for nothing; 

 lefs hard than metal or (tone can efcape their mod defiruclive 

 jaws* 



They have been taken notice of by various travellers, in differ^ 

 ent parts of the torrid zone ; and indeed, where numerous, as 

 is the cafe in all equinoctial countries and iflands that are not 

 fully cultivated, if a perfon has not been incited by curiofity to* 

 obferve them, he muft have been very fortunate, who, after a> 

 (hort refidence, has not been compelled to it for the fafety of his, 

 property.. 



Thefe infects have generally obtained the name of ants ; it may 

 be prefumed, from the fimilarity in their manner of living, which* 

 is in large communities, that erect very extraordinary nefts, for 

 the molt part on the furface of the ground 5 from whence their 

 excurfions are made through fubterraneous paiTages, or covered 

 galleries, which they build 3 whenever neceffity obliges, or plunder 



induce 



