OBSERVATIONS ON TERMITES IN JAMAICA 205 



nasuti become evident and by rapid journeys round about with 

 outstretched antennae come into contact with the source of dis- 

 turbance, if possible ; the w^orkers generally follow after the 

 first rush of soldiers. When a new arcade is to be built the 

 soldiers are seen stationed along the route in a row on each 

 side, as many as 60 on the right and as many on the left of a 

 stream of workers 225 mm. long. These' guards stand at a 

 large angle to the moving throng with heads out and palpating 

 antennae. They are very easily affected by breath, or draught 

 or touch. On disturbance the workers first retreat along the 

 procession leaving only soldiers for a time. Also in the midst 

 of a large mass of drinking workers a line of soldiers was found 

 on each side of the stream of coming and going workers, so that 

 the alignment of soldiers along moving processions of workers 

 in an exposed place seems a deep-seated habit. 



The soldier on guard may sometimes join the procession and 

 some other ultimately come into his place, but the guards remain 

 rather stationary for a long time. 



In what way, if any, the soldiers influence the workers, was 

 not found oiit. The rapid vibration of the body which makes 

 the soldiers appear as blurs was not seen to produce any effect 

 upon other termites, nor was any sound heard when this violent 

 motion was going on. The workers also exhibit this vibration 

 and in both cases it seems the result of some excitement, but 

 was not seen to produce response in other termites. The soldiers 

 being of lighter w^eight, exhibit this remarkable vibration more 

 markedly than the workers and amidst aliens they seem to escape 

 attack w^hen appearing as mere blurs. One with right first and 

 second legs and left second legs cut off still vibrated. The legs 

 of soldiers were seen to be cleaned by workers and the soldiers 

 raised the abdomen in a special attitude when a worker was 

 cleaning the under side. Soldiers were seen to feed or drink 

 from one another's mouths, but as they appear not to drink or 

 feed from water or wood when kept several days isolated and 

 then do solicit workers and obtain material from the workers' 

 mouths it is probable that the workers are the necessary mid- 

 dlemen between the soldiers and the raw material. 



Though the soldiers do not fight with their jaws they are potent 

 defenders of the community, at least, against other communities. 

 Nasuti were seen to attack alien nasuti and workers by thrusting 



