which case they would have been corrupted; she therefore selects them when they have their full growth. It is also observed, that if she choose a larger sort, she gives a less number of them, and so reciprocally. [98] Reaumur Mem. pour l’Histoire des Insectes, tom. xi. par. 2, p. 9. From a retrospect view of this chapter, we may observe a striking difference between man and the lower orders of animal creation. Man is born totally ignorant; so much so, that he has no knowledge even of the mother’s breast, till he has been brought acquainted with it by repeated trials; he has no innate ideas, is unable to choose what is proper for his food; he cannot form his voice to any articulate pronunciation, or to express the affections of love; whereas the quadruped, the bird, and the insect, are born to all that knowledge which is necessary for the gratification of those desires or that love which forms their life; and, consequently, in the knowledge of every thing relating to their well-being, their food, their habitations, the commerce of the sexes, their provision for their young, &c. from the impulse of the pleasure arising from these innate desires and affections, the larva is also prompted to seek and aspire after a change of its earthly state. If it were not foreign to the subject in hand, it might be easy to shew, by a variety of reasons, that this imperfection of man at his nativity constitutes his real perfection, and places him infinitely, if I may so speak, above the brute creation; for man is not created relatively perfect, but formed a recipient of all perfection. OF THE TERMITES, GENERALLY CALLED WHITE ANTS. As no insects exceed the termites in their wonderful œconomy, wise contrivances, and stupendous buildings, it will be proper to give the reader some account of them; which I am enabled to do from the excellent paper written by the late Mr. Smeathman, and published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1781, part 1. The termites are represented by Linnæus as the greatest plagues of both Indies, and are indeed justly deemed so every where between the tropics, on account of the vast damages sustained through them in consequence of their eating and perforating wooden buildings, utensils, furniture, &c. which are totally destroyed by them if not timely prevented; for no substance less hard than metal or stone can escape their most destructive jaws.