Microscopical Essays; 



order, that is to fay, the infect in it's perfect Hate, having -four 

 wings, without any fling, it belongs to the neuroptera, in which 

 clafs it will conflitute a new genus of many fpecies. 



The different fpecies of this genus referable each other in form, 

 in their manner of living, and in their good and bad qualities ; 

 but differ as much as birds in the manner of building their habi- 

 tations or nefts, and in the choice of the materials of which they 

 compofe them. 



There .are fome fpecies which build upon the furface of the 

 ground, or part above, and part beneath ; and one or two fpe- 

 cies, perhaps more, that build on the ftem or branches of trees. 



Of every fpecies there are three orders ; firft, die working in- 

 feels, which, for brevity, we mall generally call labourers • next 

 the fighting ones, or foldiers, which do no kind of labour; and 

 laft of all, the winged ones, or perfect infects, which are male 

 and female, and capable of propagation : thefe might very ap- 

 pofitely be called the nobility, or gentry, for they neither labour, 

 nor toil, nor fight, being quite incapable of either, and almoft of 

 felf -defence. Thefe only are capable of being elected kings or 

 queens ; and nature has fo ordered it, that they emigrate within 

 a few weeks after they are elevated to this ft ate, and either efta- 

 blifh new kingdoms, orperifh within a day or two. 



The te rimes bellicosus being the larger! fpecies, is mo ft 

 remarkable, and belt known on the coaft of Africa. It erects 

 immenfe buildings of well-tempered clay, or earth, which are 

 contrived and finifhed with fuch art and ingenuity, that we are 

 6 at 



