396 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
several dealated males and females were wandering about, in 
pairs as usual. At 6.22 one more winged insect emerged from 
A; with the exception of a few workers, the crowd which 
originally surrounded A had now re-entered the nest. 
At 6.24 a pair of dealated insects crossed A, and were driven 
off by a soldier. At the same time a winged insect emerged 
from A, and was followed by another a minute later. Band C 
were now Closed by a layer of earth. The first seal is very 
thin, and consists of apparently a single layer of particles with 
numerous minute interspaces. The particles are subsequently 
re-arranged and more added, and during the course of re- 
arrangement the opening may be partly opened from time to 
time. C was partly open at 6.30, and was approached by a 
pair of dealated insects ; one tried to enter, and got partly in, 
but came out again. On a second attempt it succeeded. 
The other ran round the entrance for a little while, and then 
followed the first into the nest. 
At 6.30 a winged insect emerging from A stuck fast in the 
earth with which the exit was being closed ; it succeeded in 
getting free at 6.32, but whether it was assisted by the workers 
I could not determine. At 6.34 a dealated insect attempted 
to enter B (now open), and was driven off by a soldier, which 
was carried away adhering to its head. Another tried to enter 
B at 6.35, but was attacked and dragged away by a red ant 
(Plagiolepis longipes). At 6.36 two tried to enter A, but were 
driven off. At 6.37 one entered B through a small opening 
which was guarded by a soldier, and another forced its way 
into C through the thin earthen covering. 
At 6.40 A appeared to be closed, but the process of re- 
arranging the earth was not completed until 7.30, and in the 
interval the exit was frequently partly open. Several dealated 
insects were wandering round, but the red ants, now present 
in considerable numbers, prevented them approaching the 
holes. At 7 P.M. one more winged insect emerged from A. 
At 7.5 P.M. one dealated insect attempted to enter B, and was 
driven off by a soldier. B and C were finally closed at 7.10, 
and A at 7.30. No workers or soldiers were left outside the 
nest. In the latter respect this flight differed from the one 
recorded in Annals of Peradeniya, III., p. 269. 
