NOTES ON TERMITES FROM CEYLON. Ill 



material and encaseji in a very thin outer cover to protect the 

 nest from rain and the intrusion of ants and other predatory- 

 insects. A median section showed three more or less con- 

 centric portions. The outer area consisted of small cells, the 

 inner of elongated cells of a much larger size, and the central 

 portion was composed of much stronger wood-Hke material 

 of a lighter colour, and containing the queen's cell and other 

 large cells with eggs and young larvae. This central portion 

 was not placed in the exact geometrical centre of the nest, 

 but considerably below the middle. This neSt contained all 

 castes, including winged adults, which were till now unknown. 

 Dr. Bugnion has undertaken to give a description and draw- 

 ings of them. After opening the nest, one -half was fixed in a 

 tree near the laboratory, where, for some time, I was able to 

 observe the habits of the insects. 



Disregardful of daylight or even sunshine they were to be 

 seen ascending and descending the trunk of the tree, on several 

 tracks, and here and there appeared the beginning of a tunnel. 

 But after a day or two only one track was used, the others 

 being abandoned. These tracks were chiefly used by workers, 

 but among them appeared sometimes nymphs and winged 

 individuals. Workers now and then were seen to carry young 

 larvae, holding them with their mandibles. The soldiers were 

 mostly posted in small groups on each side of the track and 

 near the beginnings of galleries. The workers were not very 

 eager at their work, and only a few carried small particles of 

 building material. They deposited their tiny bricks in gaps 

 or other suitable places, giving them the proper position by 

 trying to place them first one way then another, finally fixing 

 them by pressing them with a side way movement of the head, 

 after which I sometimes saw them turn round to place a drop 

 of proctodoeal secretion on the place. 



Two weeks later, after my return to Peradeniya, I found the 

 nest in much the same condition. The galleries were still 

 incomplete and the nest had the appearance of being deserted. 

 An inspection, however, showed that it was crowded with 

 inhabitants. Possibly the position in which the nest had 

 been placed was not a convenient one, and the loss of the 

 queen may have upset the regular functions of the inhabitants. 



