Microscopical Essays. 



Thofe which build either the roofed turrets, or the nefts in the 

 trees, feem, in moft inftances, to have a ftrong refemblance to 

 them, both in their form and ceconomy, going through the fame 

 changes from the egg to the winged ftate. The queens alfo in- 

 creafe to a great fize when compared with the labourers, but 

 very fhort of thofe queens before defcribed. The largeft are 

 from about an inch to an inch and a half long, and not much 

 thicker than a common quill. There is the fame kind of perif- 

 taltic motion in the abdomen, but in a much final ler degree ; 

 and as the animal is incapable of moving from her place, the 

 eggs, no doubt, are carried to the different cells by the labourers, 

 and reared with a care limilar to that which is praclifed in the 

 larger nefts. 



It is remarkable of all thefe different fpecies, that the working 

 and the fighting infects never expofe themfelves to the open air, 

 but either travel under ground, or within fuch trees and fub- 

 ftances as they deftroy; except, indeed, when they cannot pro- 

 ceed by their latent paffages, and find it convenient or neceflary 

 to fearch for plunder above ground : in that cafe they make pipes 

 of that material with which they build their nefts. The larger 

 fort ufe the red clay ; the turret builders ufe the black clay ; and 

 thofe which build in the trees employ the fame ligneous fubftance 

 of which their nefts are compofed. 



The termites, except their heads, are exceedingly foft, and 

 covered with a very thin and delicate fkin ; being blind, they are 

 no match on open ground for the ants, who can fee, and are all 

 of them covered with a ftrong horny fhell not eafily pierced, and 

 are of difpofitions bold, active, and rapacious. 



Whenever 



