374 CLAUDE FULLER. 



in diameter — some being low and spreading, others more 

 conical — they present a characteristic likeness one to another, 

 and can only be likened to small, rough coronets. In their 

 natural state they are soft and friable, but when dried they 

 become hard and woody. Viewed from above nearly every 

 garden presents a broad oval outline. 



The royal cell is not so spacious an affair as is that of some 

 other termites (badius). It is broadly oval in outline with a 

 flat floor and shallow concave vault. The distance from floor 

 to roof in four examples before me is 18 mm., a space which 

 is just sufficient to accommodate the body of the queen ; in 

 fact, the queen may be snid to be compressed between the 

 root' and flooi- of her citadel. The short diameter is 80 to 

 100 nnn., and the long diameter 127 mm. 



This description of the hive is based entirely upon my own 

 observations. Because of its incompleteness it is given with 

 much reluctance ; and, if adding little that is new, is presented 

 with the intention of showing that the structure provides 

 many architectural problems well worthy of investigation. 



The Inhabitants. 



(1) The Queen. — Smeathman's picturesque account of the 

 live queen of bellicosus is indeed a good one for uatal- 

 ensis. The creature, when imprisoned in a box with 

 attendants, doubtless behaves quite naturally for some time. 

 She is very excitable and constantly changes her position, 

 swinging her body from side to side, and progressing not 

 forward, but somewhat around a small circle. To achieve 

 this, the head and thorax are thrown right round to one side 

 or the other until the head is brought in contact with the side 

 of the abdomen. All the time the insect pulls forward with 

 the full strength of her legs. The massive body soon reacts 

 to the strain and pivots on its base. This continuous leverage 

 of the body, only momentarily interrupted when a worker 

 presents its quota of food, is varied but in direction, and is 

 the result of enormous muscular effort. Indeed it mav be said 



