the Termites of Africa and other hot Climates. 173 
gree ; 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 fimilar to that which is prac- 
tifed in the larger nefts. 
It is remarkable of all thefe different fpecies, that the work- 
ing and the fighting infedls never expofe themfelves to the open 
air ; but either travel under ground, or within fuch trees and 
fubftances as they deftroy, except, indeed, when, they cannot 
proceed by their latent paifages, and find it convenient or ne- 
eeflary 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 fubftances of which their nefts are 
eompofed 0°) fi 1 ) Off 
With 
(3°) “ Small birds, fowls, Lizards, and other reptiles, fearch for them as the 
44 moil; delicious morfels ; therefore they never go abroad but under their covered 
44 ways.”, du tertre, .quarto, vol. II, p. 345. 
(31) The earth hereabouts was all filled with a fpecies of a white Ant, called: 
&t Yag Vague, different from that which I have elfewhere deferibed. This,, 
44 inftead of raifing pyramids, continues buried under ground, and never makes, 
44 itfelf known but by fmall cylindrical galleries of the thicknefs of a goofe quill, 
44 which it erefts againft the feveral bodies it defigns to attack. Thefe galleries 
44 are formed of earth with infinite delicacy of workmanfhip.. The Vag Yagues 
44 make- ufe of them as of covert-ways, to- work without being feen ; and what- 
44 ever they fallen themfelves to, whether it be leather, cloth, linen, books, or 
44 wood, it is furely gnawed and confirmed.. I fhould have thought myfelf pretty 
44 well off, had they only attacked the reeds of my hut; but they pierced. 
44 through, a trunk which flood on treftles a foot above the ground, and gnawed-' 
44 moil of my book.” ad anson’s Voyage to Guinea, 1 - 79 — 337. 
N. B, Mr. adanso-n is certainly miflaken when he fays, 44 They never make. 
u themfelves known but by their covered ways, and is the only one whom I have- 
44 reel; 
