Before drawing my remarks on the termites to a close, I should not omit to state that two species, viz. the Termes lucifugus and Termes flavicollis, exist in France. The former, which is described as a little insect of brilliant black (in the males), is said to be common enough in the moors of Gascony, and to attack oak and fir trees; and the latter, which is known as the yellow-necked white ant, and which is reported to live in the interior of trees, is gravely charged with doing a great deal of mischief in the South of France, and in Spain also, to olive and other precious trees. Latreille has established the fact that it is the Termes lucifugus which causes such havoc at La Rochelle, at Rochefort, at Saintes, at Tournay, Charente, in the Isle of Aix, etc., where many houses have been completely undermined by these terrible insects. Louis Figuier, from whose interesting record, entitled The Insect World, I have gathered the above information, assures us that 'at La Rochelle these insects took possession of the prefect's house, built by the brothers Poupet (rich shipowners, in whose merchandise it is supposed these termites have been imported into France from St. Domingo), and of the arsenal. There they invaded offices, apartments, court, and garden. They could not drive in a stake or leave a plank in the garden but it was attacked the next day. One fine morning the archives of the department were found destroyed without there being the smallest trace of the damage to be seen in the exterior.' We have pointed out how the discovery of the remains of the white ant in the coal-measures is an evidence that it was, to a certain extent, through their destructive agency that the tropical vegetable matter was accumulated which went to form our coal. And as the white ant, by hastening the decomposition of vegetable substances, has ever proved a friend to man, so the true ants we have seen prove themselves a boon to the inhabitants of tropical climes, especially by destroying what are popularly classed as vermin n; and this their friendly and beneficent office is recognised, their visit being called by the natives 'de blessing of God.' And now, surely, enough has been said, ample evidence has been brought forward, my own personal testimony having been confirmed, when necessary, by the experience of others, to warrant me in earnestly demanding for my little clients a favourable verdict. When you bear in mind the self-devotion of the queen for the commonwealth; the loyalty of her subjects, their affection towards their youthful charges, preserving as they do a happy medium between. undue severity and over-indulgence; their liberal system of education without the aid of privy councils and revised codes; their plan of drainage, most effectual before boards of health and city corporations had ever been heard of; their public works and national enterprises, planned and executed with the most surprising promptitude uncontrolled by parliamentary committees, orders in council, and circumlocution offices; their social institutions, their provident clubs and savings banks, gathering as they do their meat in the summer-the continental and foreign ants, grain and honey; the British ants, their aphides for future use1-when you bear in mind their perseverance under difficulties, that no poor-house or assessment committee or sanitary authorities are needed, for all live as brethren, all sympathise with each other in trouble and difficulty, and share everything in common as members of the same happy family, 'he that gathers much having nothing over, and he that gathers little having no lack: 'when you remember their habits of early rising, of cleanliness, of moderation, of economy, of temperance, their love of fresh air, their skill and industry in their many trades, the magnificent scale on which they construct their houses; their language, which though more difficult to acquire than 1 My discovery at Branscombe (see Preface and footnote on p. 101) seems to indicate that they may occasionally store seeds. Chinese, yet is to them so intelligible that there are no misunderstandings, all speaking it fluently, and by means of its mysterious agency communicating their ideas to each other when you recall how they carry out concerted plans thoroughly, noiselessly, uninterruptedly, not resting till their work be finished, animated by one spirit, pursuing thus the end, fulfilling thus the law of their brief existence,-you must allow that surely this 'little people' are 'exceeding wise.' And what may we learn from all this? May we not learn wisdom? Wisdom to behold the presence and the glory of the Omnipotent reflected in His works; and find that while we have been discoursing upon the little people of our enraptured observation, we have in deed and in truth been communing with our God? 'The Lord of all, Himself through all diffused, Nature is but a name for an effect, Whose cause is God.' May we not also recognise the beautiful alliance that exists between the facts of science and the statements of Revelation, and acknowledge that the Redeemer of men. is the Lord of the material universe? 'One spirit, His Who wore the platted thorns with bleeding brows, Rules universal nature.' And as we are made glad through God's works, may we grow in wisdom by having our faith confirmed in that glorious Being in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge, and seek more earnestly, by the help of His life-giving Spirit, to fulfil the law of our being by shining in His radiant image, anticipating the happiness of that joyous season when they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and when the brilliant atmosphere of the better country shall be vocal with the praises of a ransomed and a jubilant throng to Him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb, this being the burden of the entrancing anthem, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain'—'Great and marvellous are Thy works, Thou King of saints'-' Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.' Р |