OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 137 



larger Termitiua described by Heer from the European tertlaries, 

 although they do not appear to agree with the characteristics of the 

 genus as given by liim, and certainly approach in some of their fea- 

 tures the peculiarities of tlie present genus. It is however impos- 

 sible from Heer's figures alone to judge whether thej' are really more 

 closely allied to Ilodotermes or Parotermes ; a nearer examination of 

 the types themselves would perhaps decide ; but at present Paroter- 

 mes must be considered peculiar to the American tertiaries. 



The species are all of pretty large size. They may be separated as 

 follows : — 



Abdomen considerably broader than tlio thorax. 



Wings produced at tlie apex ; subinaiginnl vein short ; brandies of 

 the cxternomedian vein and inferior brandies of scapular raore 

 obliqiie tlian tlie superior scapular brandies .... 1. P. insignis. 

 Wings rounded at the apex; subniarginal vein long; branches of the 

 subnicdian vein and inferior branches of the scapular as longitu- 

 dinal as the superior scapular brandies ...'..., 2. P. Ilajcnii. 

 Abdomen no broader than thorax 0. P. foduicz. 



Pauotermes insigxis nov. sp. 



Head broad oval, of pretty regular shape, but broadest in the 

 middle of the hinder half, the front and hind border broadly rounded ; 

 there is a slight median longitudinal suture in the posterior half of 

 the head. Eyes one fifth the diameter of the head, situated with the 

 front margin slightly more distant from the front than from the hind 

 border of the head and the outer margin just within or at the lateral 

 margin of the head ; they do not appear to project strongly above the 

 surface. Antennae scarcely so long as the head and prothorax to- 

 gether, composed of about twenty to twenty-two joints, the basal 

 joints twice as broad as the stem, the others broader than long and 

 equal throughout, not enlarged toward the middle of the antennas. 



Pronotum nearly twice as broad as long, as broad as the head, the 

 front margin nearly straight with slightly rounded corners, the hind 

 border and sides forming one nearly uniform broad semicircular curve; 

 its surface appears to be flat, or at least there is no mcilian impressed 

 line. Mesonotum a fourth broader than long, with a distinct median 

 impressed line, at least in the front half, subquadrate in shape, broad- 

 est in the middle of the front half, and tapering slightly and regularly 

 behind, the front margin broadly rounded to the shoulder of the wing. 

 Metanotiim about as long as the mesonotum and of a similar shape, 

 but tapering more rapidly behind, and likewise with a median im- ,-: 

 pressed line more distinct anteriorly. 



