Microscopical Ess at s. 



311 



Whenever the termites are diflodged from their covered ways, 

 the various fpecies of the former, who probably are as numerous 

 above ground as the latter are in their fubterraneous paffages, in- 

 ftantly feize and drag them away to their nefts, to feed the young' 

 brood. The termites are, therefore, exceedingly felicitous about 

 the preferving their covered ways in good repair ; and if you de- 

 molifli one of them for a few inches in length, it is wonderful how 

 foon they rebuild it. At firft, in their hurry, they get into the 

 open part an inch or two, but flop fo fuddenly, that it is very 

 apparent they are furprized : for though feme run ftrait on, 

 and get under the arch as fpeedily as poffible in the further part, 

 mod of them run as fall back, and very few will venture through' 

 that part of the track which is left uncovered. In a few minutes 

 you will perceive them re-building the arch, and by the next 

 morning they will have reftored their gallery for three or four 

 yards in length, if fo much has been; ruined ; and upon opening' 

 it again, will be found as numerous as ever under it, patting both 

 ways. If you continue to deftroy it feveral times, they will at 

 length feem to give up the point, and build another in a differ- 

 ent dire&ion ; but if the old one led to feme favourite plundery 

 in a few days will rebuild it again ; and, unlefs you deftroy their 

 neft, never totally abandon their gallery. They do confiderable 

 damage to houfes, &c. They make their approaches chiefly 

 under ground, defcending below the foundations of houfes and: 

 {lores at feveral feet from the furf ace, and rifmg again either in 

 the floors, or entering at the bottom of the pofts, of which the 

 fides of the buildings are compofed, bore quite through them, 

 following the courfe of the fibres to the top, or making lateral' 

 perforations and cavities here and there as they proceed. 



xr hile 



