268 petch : the fungi 



Appendix. 



The exit of winged termites, i.e., the male and female 

 insects, from the nest usually takes place at night, and, there- 

 fore, although the fact is well advertised by their appearance 

 in large numbers round the lamps of the bungalows, the actual 

 circumstances connected with their departure are not often 

 observed. 



On leaving the bungalow at eight o'clock, one morning, 

 large numbers of winged termites were observed flying along 

 the road and over the adjoining tea in full sun. A quarter 

 of a mile away, the nest from which they had come was found 

 by the roadside. It was a subterranean nest with six small 

 chimneys from which the termites were still emerging in 

 scores. The chimney openings had been narrowed, in some 

 cases t^o mere slits, so that the insects came up side by side in 

 i single row. On reaching the edge they flew off immediately. 

 Several lizards which had been snapping them up as they 

 emerged ran off at our approach, but one which had apparently 

 eaten too many sat gazing stupidly across the mouth of a 

 chimney, his mouth fringed with termite wings. The workers 

 and soldiers were running about inside and outside the 

 chimneys, and numbers of them were wandering among the 

 surrounding grass. They were not engaged in building, as 

 they usually an- when seen at the mouth of a chimney, uor 

 <lid they seem to be making any endeavour to prevent the 

 ape "i the winged insects The latter fly to a considerable 

 distance, and in this case were observed m< tie than half a mile 

 from the nest. On returning, four hours later, it was found 

 thai all the chimneys had been closed, ami when they were 



broken open no Winged termite- were found inside. This was 

 .1 iic-i ,,\ '/'. nli.se unci ps. 



\ Qighl of '/'. reck manni was observed about two months latei 



from a similar nest. This time it took place shortly after 6 



lock in the evening during heavy rain. There was the 



Mie narrowing of the exits, the same assembling of workers 



and soldien outside the nest, and the closure of all openings 



