BLACK TERMITE OF CEYLON. 417 



fixed transversely, between the head and the abdomen. If 

 the soldier is picked up with forceps and held in such a position 

 that its head is bent forward and the larva consequently does 

 not touch the abdomen, the larva does not fall off, but remains 

 attached to the back of the soldier's head and requires con- 

 siderable shaking to dislodge it. It is clear from that that the 

 larva adheres to the head of the soldier. Escherich regards 

 that as accidental ; he considers that the soldier when alarmed 

 exudes a defensive fluid which makes, its head sticky, and in 

 running about the nest it comes in contact with the larva 

 accidentally. If that were the case one would expect the 

 soldier to make some effort to dislodge its burden, instead of 

 carrying it about for several days. 



On January 30 one of these wandering bands took possession 

 of a flower pot on the verandah, in which was planted the 

 stump of a teabush, covered with a bell-glass. Some of the 

 larvae with them were almost as big as the workers. They 

 remained there for two days, and gathered the green alga3 which 

 were growing on the sides of that and other similar pots, but 

 made no attempt to build a nest. On February 14 they 

 returned to this plant pot, and began to build a comb round 

 the stump, but they abandoned it again in the afternoon and 

 resumed their wanderings round the laboratory. On Fel^ruary 

 19 they again returned, and remained two daj's, but on the 21st 

 they had disappeared. On March 15 they finally settled down 

 under the bell-glass and began to build vigorously, obtaining 

 food chiefly from the colonies of algae on the plant pots and 

 on the walls of the laboratory. The comb was gradually built 

 up round the stump until it reached the top of the bell-glass, 

 and extended laterally until, in places, it was united to the 

 sides. But the available space was apparently greater than 

 they required, and they did not carry the comb to the sides of 

 the bell-glass everywhere. This comb is figured on PI. XIV., 

 about one half natural size. It will be seen that it differs from 

 the comb figured on PI. VIII., the walls being much rougher 

 than in the latter. That is due to the fact that in this case 

 the wall is built of particles of sand and earth, as well as the 

 excrement of the insects, doubtle-ss because the supply of food 

 was scanty. 



