ON SOME AUSTRALIAN TERMITES. 393 



pointed apex. Clypeus convex, much wider than long, arcuate in front, divided by 

 a deep median suture which extends into the front of the head, where there is a 

 flask-shaped depression. Mandibles long and moderately slender, falciform, with 

 a sharp hook-like tooth near the middle. Antennae 15-jointed, arising from a 

 prominence within a short and wide fossa behind the base of the mandibles ; 1st 

 joint very large, 2nd less than half as long as 1st and much narrower ; 3rd very short 

 and narrow ; 4th and 5th equal in size, longer and wider than 3rd ; 6th much longer 

 and wider than 5th. 



Thorax with anterior half bent up, lateral margins angular, posterior margin 

 rounded, clothed with scattered reddish hairs as on head. Legs with femora 

 moderately stout, fore-tibiae stout, mid-tibiae with two short stout setae towards 

 the apex in addition to the two larger apical spurs ; tibial spurs, 3:2:2. 



Abdomen clothed rather densely with reddish hairs. 



Measurements: Total length, about 4; head, including mandibles, 1-78-1 -8 

 long; thorax and abdomen, 2-8 long; head, 1-03-1 -12 wide; antennae, 1-41 ; 

 prothorax, 0-32 long, 0-7 wide; tibia (i) 0-8, (ii) 0-7, (iii) 1; abdomen, 1-17 

 wide. 



Worker.- — Head and thorax creamy, rest of insect almost hyaUne, the wiiole 

 surface moderately hairy. 



Antennae 15-jointed ; 1st joint twice as long as and one-fifth wider than 2nd ; 

 3rd very short and narrow, shorter than broad ; 4th and 5th equal in length, longer 

 and wider than 3rd ; 6th as long as 2nd ; 7th-12th similar to each other, longer than 

 6th ; 13th and 14th equal in length, the latter more cyHndrical ; 15th as long as 1st, 

 widest at the proximal third, tapered to the pointed apex. 



Prothorax with anterior third rounded and bent up, emarginate ; lateral margins 

 elongate, bluntly pointed ; posterior margin truncate, without emargination ; 

 surface clothed with stout redcUsh hairs. Legs similar in shape and armature to those 

 of soldier, except that the two short setae on the upper surface of the second tibiae 

 of the soldier are replaced by much longer and more slender ones ; tibial spurs, 

 3:2:2. 



Measurements: Total length, about 5-2; head, with mandibles, 1-41 long; 

 thorax and abdomen, 3-76 long; head, 1-04 wide; mandibles, right, 0-51 long, 

 0-42 wide, left, {a) 0-51 long, 0-3 wide, {b) 0-61 long, 0-37 wide ; antennae, 1 -4-1 -7 ; 

 prothorax, 0-37 long, 0-75 wide ; tibia (i) 0-7, (ii) 0-65, (iii) 0-90-0-93. 



This species appears to be nearest H. herbertensis, Mjob., from which it is easily 

 distinguished by the characters given for the imago and soldier. 



N. Queensland : Magnetic Island, Townsville. 



Biology. 

 This is a common species in the Townsville district and on Magnetic Island, 

 where it is generally found under earthy covered-ways on the trunks of living 

 eucalyptus trees growing on hill-sides and open forest lands. Very rarely these 

 covered-ways are constructed on the trunks of dead trees from which the bark has 

 fallen ; but in most cases living trees with friable bark are favoured. At first, tube- 

 like covered- ways are constructed, which extend up the trunk to a height of 6-10 ft., 

 the loose, weathered surface being removed as the tube progresses upwards. Later 

 on these tubes are extended laterally until a considerable surface is encased. On 

 removal of this fragile casing the outer weathered surface of the bark beneath will 

 be found to have been removed — -apparently for food. On one occasion a ver}- 

 small and inconspicuous mound of earth, unlike a true termitarium, lay at the base 

 of the tree, and from it the casing extended up the trunk for a distance of 3| ft., 

 where it had been cut off. The mound was traversed by a few galleries, which con- 

 tained a few soldiers, workers, and nymphs of the second form (18.viii.l919). 



