^•KKSIDKNTIAI. ADDKKSS SKCTION 1). 107 



rcniaiiLs rcniarkabl)- constant, being O7 per cent., (k; per cent., 

 and 68 per cent., respectively. 



The Coleoptcra have been divided into some 85 families, and 

 out of these only 17 are represented among the termitoj)hiles. 

 Of these 17 only 8 iK)ssess more than two termitophiles, and by 

 far the most important are the following 4 families: The 

 Stapliylinidcc with 167 si>ecies, the Rhysopaussidcc (related to 

 the Tcuchrionidcc) with 52, the Scarabccidcc with 43, and the 

 Histcridcc with 24. Thus the Staphylinids are i)re-eminent in 

 the power of adapting themselves to the life of a termitophile. 

 It may be remarked that systematically there is no particular 

 relationship between the four families above mentioned ; but 

 the Staphyliiiidcc, Scarabcridcc, and Histcridcc, are all included 

 in the Pentanicra group, which is generally regarded as the 

 highest or most specialised ; nevertheless, it extends backwards 

 into far-distant geological periods. 



In Staphylinids, glands which are undoubtedly scent organs 

 tend to be especially well-developed, and perhaps this is the main 

 reason why this family shtmld have found it comparatively easy 

 to adopt the termitophile life. In Paracorotoca akcrmani there 

 are some exceptionally large inter-segmental abdominal glands 

 with rounded chitin-lined receptacles opening to the exterior, 

 and it is very probable that these are scent glands. There is no 

 doubt that termites are very sensitive to scents, and it 

 appears that the majority of the odours produced by 

 Staphylinids happen to be agreeable to them, although in certain 

 eases it would seem that the odour is disliked, and it would then 

 serve as a protection against attack. 



The numbers of species of Staphylinid termitophiles 

 occurring in three of the termite regions are remarkably close to 

 one another. Thus we have 47 in South America, 48 in Africa 

 and Madagascar, and 51 in India and Ceylon. This is probably 

 to be accounted for by supposing that the termite faunas of 

 the three regions are of such a nature as to have presented in 

 each region a similar range of opportimities for the evolution of 

 these termitophiles. 



On account of the great uniformity in the environment of a 

 termite-community, in whatever country it may be situated, it 

 might be very reasonably supposed that any termitophiles 

 occurring at the time of the disjjersal of the termites into the 

 various regions would persi.st in a little altered condition to the 

 present day, and a great similarity in the genera of the different 

 termitophile faunas might be expected. We find, however, that, 

 notwithstanding the general likeness in the size and character 

 of the various faunas, the genera in the ^Ethiopian region are 

 mostly quite distinct from those of America, but they have a 

 definite affinity with those of the Indo-Malay Region. In this 

 connection it should be noted that the Rhysopaussidcc, of which 

 there are some 41 species in Africa, appear Jto be unrepresented 



