BY G. F. HILL. 103 



jections of the sides and summit, but all are sufficiently alike to 

 distinguish them from the nests of other local species (Plate xix.). 



The interior is composed of similar material, and is not separ- 

 able from the walls. A labyrinth of passages traverses it in all 

 directions, those near the base being larger and more flattened 

 than the others. There is no well-defined "nursery," and the 

 position of the queen-cell varies greatly in individual nests. 

 Sometimes it is situated near the side, and about one inch 

 below the level of the surrounding surface-soil; at others, it is 

 well down below ground-level, and beneath the middle of the 

 superstructure. The cell measures about 3 inches in diameter, 

 by J inch in height; with irregular floor, and the sides pierced 

 by three or four holes large enough to admit the soldiers and 

 workers. 



The exterior walls rest upon the natural surface of the soil, 

 and are largely, if not entirely, constructed of material mined 

 from below, with a small admixture of short lengths of grass to 

 bind the particles. Below the superstructure, there is an area, 

 roughly corresponding to the size of the dome, which is traversed 

 by innumerable passages. These passages contain a quantity of 

 grass cut into lengths of about ^ of an inch, but the greater part 

 of the underground space is occupied by the young and adults. 

 The main store of grass, upon which they live, is stored in the 

 superstructure. Foraging tunnels pass out beneath the walls 

 into the surrounding soil, and, from them, the workers and 

 soldiers reach the surface to gathei' food. 



The termitaria are found on high, well-drained situations, 

 either on light gravelly loam, or on stony hill-sides. In the 

 latter situations, the underground portions of the nests are 

 restricted or rambling, as a matter of course, according to the 

 nature and quantity of stone underlying the superstructure. 

 Accretions to the outer walls (PL xix., fig. 7) are made during the 

 dry season. In two nests kept under close observation at Kool- 

 pinyah, in May, this work was carried on during alternate nights, 

 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Supplementary queens 

 are unknown. 



