1^2 Mr. smeathman’s Account of 
Tropics fo deemed, from the vaft damages they catife, and the 
Ioffes which are experienced inconfequence of their eating and 
perforating wooden buildings, utenf Is, and furniture, with all 
kinds of houfehold-ftuff and merchandize, which are totally 
deftroyed by them, if not timely prevented ; for nothing lefs 
hard than metal or hone can efcape their moft deftru&ive jaws. 
They have been taken notice of by various travellers in dif- 
ferent parts of the torrid zone ; and indeed where numerous, as 
is the cafe in all equinoctial countries and illands that are not 
fully cultivated, if a perfon has not been incited by curiof ty to 
obferve them, he muft have been very fortunate who, after a 
fhort ref dence, has not been compelled to it y for the fafety of 
his property, 
Thefe infeCts have generally obtained the name of Ants, it 
maybe prefumed, from the f milanty in their manner of liv- 
ing, which is, in large communities that erect very extraordi- 
nary nefts, for the moft part on the fur face of the ground, from 
whence their excurfons are made through fubterraneous pafages 
or covered galleries, which they build whenever necefiity 
obliges, or plunder induces, them to march above ground, and 
at a great diftance from their habitations carry on a buhneis of 
depredation and deftruftion, fcarce credible but to thofe who 
have feen it* But notwithftandmg they lice m communities, 
and are like the ants omnivorous , though like them at a ceitam 
period they are furnifhed with four wings, and emigrate 01 co- 
lonize at the fame feafon ; they are by no means the fame kind 
of infects, nor does their form correfpond with that of Ants in 
anyone hate of their exigence, which, like moft other hifedts, 
is changed feveral times. 
The Termites referable the Ants alfo in their provident and 
diligent labour, but furpafs them as well as the Bees, Whips, 
^ Beavers, 
