ERIC MJOBERG, ISOPTÉRA. 3 



adds no less than 9 new species and one new endemic genus 

 (Monodonterrnes). He also created several new genera for 

 certain already described species, which, however, have 

 either been reduced or accepted as sub-genera by Holm- 

 gren. The almost entire absence of any field observations or 

 information about '^ -^ life, habits and nests of Silwestri's 

 new species is very much to be regretted. The termite fauna 

 of the very old, and from a botanical point of view specially 

 interesting, southwest corner of Australia is apparently very 

 rich and would repay more careful study, both from a sy- 

 stematic and from a biological standpoint. 



Holmgren's big work »Termiten-Studien» (1—4, 1909, 

 1911, 1912, Kungl. Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar) in 

 many way marks a new era in our stydy of the termites. 

 It is a very modern work and adds considerably to our 

 knowledge of the anatomy as well as of the classification of 

 the group. He endeavours to introduce quite a new system 

 based on new investigations. The old, more or less artificial 

 system, is replaced by a phylogenetic one, where the families, 

 the genera and species are grouped together according to 

 their natural relationship. Even if Holmgren's new system 

 is bound to be subjected to certain modifications in the 

 future, it marks a decided advance and constitutes in its 

 mainlines a sound basis for future workers to build upon. 

 For these reasons I have adopted his system in the following. 



Holmgren adds two new Australian species of the genus 

 Porotermes, thus bringing the number of known distinct spe- 

 cies up to 44. 



