480 
WHITE ANTS. 
belongs to the neuroptera ; in which class it will 
constitute a new genus of many species. 
u The different species of this genus resemble 
each other in form, in their manner of living, and 
in their good and bad qualities, but differ as much 
as birds in the method of building their habitations 
or nests, and in the choice of the materials of which 
they compose them. There are some species which 
build upon the surface of the ground, or part above 
and part beneath, and one or two species, perhaps 
more, that build on the stems or branches of trees, 
sometimes aloft at a vast height. Of every species 
there are three orders ; first the working insects, 
which, for brevity, I shall generally call labourers ; 
next the fighting ones, or soldiers , which do no kind 
of labour ; and last of all the winged ones, or per- 
fect insects , which are male and female, and capable 
of propagation. These might, very appositely, be 
called the nobility or gentry ; for they neither labour, 
or toil, or fight, being quite incapable of either, and 
almost of self-defence. These only are capable of 
being elected kings or queens ; and Nature has so 
ordered it, that they emigrate within a few weeks 
after they are elevated to this state, and either 
establish new kingdoms, or perish within a day or 
two. 
“ The termes bellicosus, being the largest species, 
is most remarkable and best known on the coast of 
Africa. It erects immense buildings of well tem- 
pered clay or earth, which are contrived and finished 
