covered ways and habitations are destroyed, it is wonderful how
quickly they will rebuild them. I have frequently destroyed them in the
evening, and have found them re-erected on the following morning.

When a pair, in the perfect state, is rescued from the general devastation
which attends these little animals, they are by the two first species
elected king and queen, and are inclosed in a chamber, as before described,
around which a new empire is formed, and pyramids are erected.

That species which builds in trees, frequently establish their abode in
houses also, which in time they will entirely destroy, if not extirpated.
The large kind, however, are more destructive, and more difficult to guard
against, as their approaches are principally made under-ground, and below
the foundation; they rise either in the floors, or under the posts, which
in African buildings support the roof, and as they proceed, they form
cavities towards the top, similar to the holes bored in the bottom of ships
by the worms, which appear to answer the same purpose in water as the
_termites_ do upon land. How convincing is this fact of the infinitely wise
arrangements of the Creator, who has united, in the whole system of
creation, one uniform conformation of order and utility; for although the
_vermis_, or worm, which is so pernicious to shipping in tropical climates,
and the _termite_, possess so many destructive qualities, yet these very
properties serve the most important purposes and designs. Scarcely any
thing perishable on land escapes the _termite_, or in water, the worm; and
it is from thence evident, that these animals are designed by nature to rid
both of incumbrances, which in tropical climates would be attended with
putrefaction and disease.

The first object which strikes the attention, and excites admiration, upon
opening and investigating the hills of the _termites_, is, the conduct of
the armed species, or soldiers; when a breach is made by a pick-axe, or
hoe, they instantaneously sally forth in small parties round the breach, as
if to oppose the enemy, or to examine the nature of the attack, and the
numbers increase to an incredible degree as long as it continues; parties
frequently return as if to give the alarm to the whole community, and then
rush forth again with astonishing fury. At this period they are replete
with rage, and make a noise which is very distinguishable, and is similar
to the ticking of a watch; if any obj