366 CLAUDE FULLER. 



being formed from a clayey mould. Its surface was littered 

 Avith dead foliage, and into its matrix the roots of the 

 surrounding trees had penetrated, Avhilst from its summit gi-ew 

 a sapling 10 to 12 ft. high with a stem 2 to 3 in. in diameter. 

 This mound avhs grossly invaded by T. in cert us, whose 

 fungus-gardens were in great abundance and seldom more 

 than 6 in. apart. Pyramidal, pinnacled, and conical masonry 

 mounds are to be met with on the highlands of Natal in great 

 abundance; in favoured sites being seldom more than 100 

 paces apart and often less than 60 paces (PI. XXVI, figs. 13 

 and 14). 



The two Mount Edgecombe nests are described to indicate 

 the genesis of those great termite ramparts which are prefer- 

 ably referred to as " nest-sites." These, it is thought, are of 

 very ancient formation indeed, and owe their huge bulk to 

 the work of generations of terinites and the accumulations of 

 organic matter from the plants which overgrow them. 



The bush fringing the sea-front of Natal contains an 

 extensive flora, but in many parts the so-called wild banana 

 (Strelitzia august a) predominates. As the bush extends 

 back from the sea it becomes more and more sparse, until the 

 glades cease in open country ; this, however, is dotted over 

 with cii'cular patches of bush, standing oasis-like in the grass 

 and giving the impression of an inland invasion of the coast 

 bush ; this is usually alluded to as the " park formation " 

 (PL XXVI, fig. 15). These oases are nest-sites. As they 

 stand, they are islands of trees, palms, and strelitzias girt 

 about by a fringe of dense low-growing plants, all so thickly 

 intergrown as to be nearly impenetrable. Cleaned of the 

 encumbering scrub, they ai-e found to be circular or oval 

 ramparts of earth, 20 to 60 paces across and from 3 to 8 or 

 10 ft. in height. Very few present any superficial evidence 

 of termite work, although in all there is ample evidence in 

 the huge burroAvs of the aardvark (Orycteropus cape n sis) 

 that they are or have been recently inhabited by a colony. 

 Occasionally atypical mound is found on the rampart, and not 

 infrequently a nest-site harbours a huge nest of T. latericius. 



