386 CLAUDE PULLER. 



The commonest type of mound is a wide, low elevation, 

 usually from 10 to 20 or more ft. across, and of an eleva- 

 tion of less than 2 ft. At irregular intervals on this mound 

 are the apertures of the air-pits, which may or may not 

 be surrounded by an elevated rim. Occasionally a conical, 

 non-perforated, super-mound also marks the nest-site ; this 

 may have a diameter at the base of 3 to 4 ft., and an 

 elevation of 2 to 3 ft. (PI. XXIX, fig. 1, a). Some of the 

 air-pits are roofed over v^ith a clay cupola, and, as far 

 as observations go, remain permanently in this condition 

 (PI. XXIX, figs. 1, d, and 2). Then they appear as low 

 conical protuberances on the mound surface. It is certaiidy 

 not the case, as given by Haviland, that the air-pits are 

 roofed over in winter and opened in summer; moreover one 

 rarely finds less than three pits, and over eleven have been 

 recorded (3). 



The elevated rims arouud the mouths of the pit are usually 

 flattened and rounded by weathering (PI. XXIX, fig. 1, b), but 

 in the first place are constructed by the insects as regular 

 turrets or chimneys ; the large super-mounds are, without 

 doubt, the outcome of combined turret building and weather- 

 ing. Equally, no doubt, the whole mound is the result of 

 these two factors acting together over a long period of time. 



There can be no doubt that the large nest-sites of T. 

 latericius are of very old origin. This is often evidenced 

 by the trees sometimes growing upon them, which must be by 

 their nature of no mean age. There is also evidence that the 

 hives progress within the large mounds ; in other words, as a 

 part becomes stale it is neglected and the main hive driven 

 further afield through the soil. Very striking evidence of 

 this was obtained in examining a large nest in Pretoria, the 

 inhabited cavity being 12 ft. removed from the further 

 extremity of the collapsed and deserted region it abutted 

 upon. 



Termes latericius may often be seen at Avork in broad 

 daylight renewing or extending the rims of the air-pits ; this 

 they do by continuing the margin in the form of a thin 



