180 Mr. smeathman’s Account of 
Thefe infers are not lefs expeditious in deftroylng the 1 
(helves, wainfeotting, and other fixtures of an houfe, than the 
houfeitfelf. They are for ever piercing and boring in all direc- 
tions, and fometimes go out of the broadfide of one poft 
into that of another joining to it ; but they prefer and always j 
deflroy the fofter fubfhnces the firft, and are particularly 
fond of pine and fir-boards, which they excavate and carry away 1 
with wonderful difpatch and aftomfhing cunning : for, except a 
fhelf has fomething (landing upon it, as a book, or any thing 
elfe which may tempt them, they will not perforate the furface, 
but artfully preferveit quite whole, and eat away all the infide, 
except a few fibres which barely keep the two Tides connected 
together, fo that a piece of an inch-board which appears folid 
to the eye will not weigh much more than two fheets of pafte- 
board of equal dimenfions, after thefe animals have been a little : 
while in pofl'eflion of it h 8 ) (39) (4°) (4 1 ). In fhort, the Termites are 
fo 
“ The black lead pencils were likewife fo completely deftroyed, that the fmalleft 
<l piece, even of the black lead could not be found. The cloaths were not 
44 entirely cut to pieces and carried away, but appeared as if moth-eaten, there 
“ being fcarce a piece as large as a {hilling that was free from fmall holes ; and 
44 it was further remarkable, that forae Jilver coin , which was in the trunk, had a 
4 4 number of black fpecks on it, caufed by fomething fo corrolive that they eould 
44 not eafily be rubbed off even with fand. J> Queen’s -fquare, Wednefday, Jan. 
*7, 1781. 
(38) “ The white Ants are tranfparent as glafs, and bite fo forcibly, that in j 
44 the fpace of one night alone they' can eat their way through a thick wooden I 
* 4 cheft of goods, and make it as full of holes, as if it had been {hot through 
44 with hail -{hot .” bosman’s Guinea, p.276, 7. 493, 
(39) moore’s Travels, p. 221. 
( 4 °) Voyage de la bat aux Illes, tom. II. p. 331. 
( 4 1 ) 44 The wood Ants are the moft pernicious of all others, being fo very 
44 deftruftivc to timber of moft forts, that, if not prevented, they will in a few j 
44 years 
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