432 CLAUDE FULLER. 



Joints III, IV, V sub-equal in the lai'gest insects ; IV the 

 largest ; in the smallest, III, IV, V, VI sub-equal. 



Thorax. — Constricted; each shield with a well-defined 

 dark brown area bordered with a sordid white. Pronotum 

 with cephalic margin white ; arched, with a small median 

 notch. 



Mesonotum longer and narrower than metanotum ; both 

 with faintly curvate, almost straight, diverging sides, then 

 rounded and tapering incurvately to narrow straight caudal 

 margins. 



Meta- more prolonged than mesonotum. 



Legs with tibia and tarsus pallid, rest brown. 



Abdomen. — Convex above; dorsal sclerites with dark 

 chocolate-brown bands which diffuse to pale brown towards 

 both margins; anal appendages long, tipped with brown; 

 cerci translucent. 



Hab. — Transvaal; Pretoria. 



This species is closely allied to transvaalensis, and has 

 similar habits, and occurs in one and the same locality. The 

 most striking differences are mostly those of colour, and the 

 thorax of transvaalensis is ornate in comparison with the 

 dull mono-tint of that of pretoriensis. The styli of the two 

 insects are essentially different, those of pretoriensis being- 

 more bristly — the proportion being apparently four bristles 

 to every three of transvaalensis. The styli of the workers 

 differ in the same respect, but the difference is not so striking 

 and can only be seen when a series of these organs from the 

 two species are microscopically compared. On two occasions 

 it has been taken mining in the plaster of inner walls of 

 houses in Pretoria, and is reported to have destroyed books and 

 starched lace curtains. The more serious complaint against 

 it was the noises made by the rappings of the soldiers at night. 

 In one series the majority of the soldiers have the apical point 

 and distal tooth duplicated, so that, when viewed from the 

 inner side, the apical points and the teeth below them are 

 furcate. 



