72 ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 12. NIO 15. 



reddish roof which lies on very nearly the same level as tbe 

 ground. In my diary I find the following field notes: »It is 

 about one meter in diameter and is raised very slightly above 

 the surroundings, being highest in the centre. The eover 

 consists of a very härd and very dense substance of reddish 

 colour, the other parts of the nest also of reddish material, 

 but slightly softer, the deeper down one goes. Immedia- 

 tely under the härd cover the galleries commence. They 

 were, in the nest in question, all filled up with short yellow 

 and dry pieces of grass and roots, which material apparently 



Text Kig. 3' 



a Head of soldier of Hamitermes meridionalis Frogc4. 

 h Head of imago of » herbertensis Mjöb. n. sp 



was brought up to the top of the nest to be dried up so 

 completely and quickly as possible in öder to prevent deadly 

 diseases breaking out (see following chapter). Here the first 

 soldiers were met with. They appeared in very great number 

 and defended themselves furiously against the intruder; here 

 and there they were seen in the more narrow duct and 

 openings of the galleries nearly filling out the opening with 

 their heads and snapping and biting with their long and shar}^ 

 mandibles viciously. Also the workers were attacking my 

 fingers and biting'with theirjaws. The soldiers were actually 

 digging in their sharp jaws so deeply that the blood was 

 oozing out. 



