NOTES. 191 
15. Fungus Gardens of Subterranean Termites in Ceylon.— 
A translation of an article by Dr. Doflein on this subject appeared in 
Spolia Zeylanica in April, 1906 (vol. ILI., p. 204), under the heading 
** Termite Truffles,” the latter word being a not very well-chosen 
approximation to the German “ Pilzkichen ;” ‘‘ Termite Combs ” 
would have been more accurate. 
The matter has been investigated with great success by Mr. T. 
Petch, who has published an exceedingly interesting and beautifully 
illustrated memoir entitled ““ The Fungi of Certain Termite Nests ” 
in the Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, vol. III., 
part II., November, 1906. ‘Mr. Petch’s conclusions are in some 
important respects in disagreement with those of Dr. Doflein, and 
his Paper, which contains a bibliography, should be consulted by 
those who wish to know more about this remarkable association 
between fungi and termites. From Mr. Petch’s Paper it appears 
that the chief edible mushroom of Ceylon grows from the combs 
of Termes redemanni and T'. obscuriceps. 
April 22, 1907. : Kp. 
16. Re-duplication of Queen in Termite’s Nest.—The presence 
of supplementary queens—or of partially developed queens—in 
termites’ nests is, I believe, of not uncommon occurrence. But the 
re-duplication of the queen in a single royal cell is more remarkable. 
A nest of Termes obscuriceps was recently dug up in the Botanic 
Gardens at Peradeniya. On opening the royal cell two fully deve- 
loped queens were found lying side by side.. No males were present. 
If these were not accidentally lost, at the time of opening the 
cell, it seems possible that two females were originally imprisoned in 
mistake for the usual sexual pair. In that case fertilization must 
have taken place—once for all—before the imprisonment. 
Peradeniya, April 19, 1907. EK. ERNEST GREEN. 
17. Boring Power of Land Leeches.—The blood-sucking habits of 
the common land leech are well known, and its powers of biting 
through the human epidermis to reach the coveted supply of fluid. 
But the ability of this creature to perforate a much tougher sub- 
stance came as a surprise tome. I happened to imprison a full-grown 
leech in one of the round glass-topped cardboard boxes commonly 
employed by entomologists. Twenty-four hours later, the leech 
was found to have escaped through a hole perforating the double 
stout card (fully a millimetre in thickness). The hole measured 
10 millimetres in longest diameter and was cleanly cut, the excised 
portion having apparently been reduced to powder. 
Peradeniya, April 15, 1907. Ee E. ERNEST GREEN. 
