There are many species of the family about, and all beautiful.
We passed too, in the path, an object curious enough, if not beautiful.

Up a smooth stem ran a little rib, seemingly of earth and dead wood, almost straight, and about half an inch across, leading to a great brown lump among the branches, as big as a bushel basket.

We broke it open, and found it a covered gallery, swarming with life.

Brown ant-like creatures, white maggot-like creatures, of several shapes and sizes, were hurrying up and down, as busy as human beings in Cheapside.

They were Termites, 'white ants'-- of which of the many species I know not--and the lump above was their nest.