ERIG MJÖBERG, ISOPTERA. 109 



perniger Frogg. (the latter in Western, Central and North- 

 ern parts). 



The species limited in their distribution to the two large 

 Southern islands all belong to the more primitive stock (Pro- 

 termitidce) and were very probably spread at an early time 

 when the landcommunications were more intimate. 



Of the remaining 72 species not less than 32 species seem 

 to be limited in their distribution to the northern more or 

 less tropical parts of the Australian continent, 1 {H. ruhriceps 

 Frogg.) is known only from the arid desert-like central parts. 

 The other 39 species pass their life in the southern more 

 temperate parts. 



Most species live in the open sun-bathed savannah forests, 

 where they find rich and varied conditions of life. Up to 

 my visit to the tropical rain-f orests or jungles in eastern 

 Queensland not a single species hat been recorded from this 

 very typical and very strictly limited botanical regions. The 

 following species, all new ones, I have found inhabiting the 

 rain-forests, living mostly in decayed logs on the ground. 



1. Stolotermes queenslandicus Mj ÖB.— N. Queensland. 



2. Stolotermes aiistralicus Mjöb. — N. » 



3. Calotermes malandensis Mjöb. — N. » 



4. Calotermes paralleliceps Mjöb. — N, » 



5. Calotermes ocidifer Mjöb. — N. » 



6. Calotermes trilineatus Mjöb. — N. » 



7. Calotermes dubius Mjöb. — N. » 



8. Calotermes affinis Mjöb. — S. » 



9. Parrhinotermes australicus Mjöb. — N. » 



10. Eutermes pluvialis Mjöb. — N. S. » 



11. Hamitermes herbertensis Mjöb. — N. » 



Not only in regard to the distribution, but also in regard 

 to the life-history, our knowledge is very restricted. Very 

 little attention has hitherto been paid to the nests and the 

 habits of the various species. The only observer that has 

 tried to study the termites also in the field, their ways of 

 building the nests etc, is Froggatt. During my two expe- 

 ditions I have had splendid opportunities of making studies 

 and notes of most of the 51 different species represented in 

 the coUections. 



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