542 



CLAUDE FULLER. 



before the time arrives for the exodus of the winged indi- 

 viduals of this subterranean species, a number of wide galleries 

 or chambers are excavated within two to three inches of the 

 surface of the soil beneath some bare spot, and in these the 

 winged forms are assembled, ready to dejjart at the chosen 

 moment. When this arrives several (one to five) perforations 

 are driven upwards through the surface. From each of these 

 first of all adventure 2-300 workers, but never any soldiers ; 



Text-fig. 5. 



The flight of Termes incertns. x x. Underground assembly' 

 cavities shown in section, x A. 



these workers swarm around the individual openings out of 

 which they have come^ spreading out to form a circular mat 

 four to six inches across. In this circumscribed area they keep 

 constantly upon the move, and none ever wander away from 

 the main body. Their egress is immediately followed by 

 that of the winged. 



Although the workers and the few soldiers that remain 

 Avithin the galleries hasten about among the images, per- 

 chance instilling into them " the spirit of the hive," those 

 without pay no attention to them, their function seeming only 

 to be the formation of a barrier — a living sacrifice — against 



