160 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [mAT 5, 



observed on the queen, with a small microscope, some parasites 

 not discernible with the unassisted eye. She could move freely, 

 with a peristaltic movement aided by the feet, and was about 

 25 mm. in length. 



In adding fresh soil to my termitarium, there was a small 

 beetle. The next day 1 found it on the surface with its legs, 

 antennae, and body so stiffened by the secretions of the workers 

 that it could scarcely crawl; they evidently intended to cover it. 



On the cocaloba (sea-grape) tree near our shops there is an- 

 other species of termites, Termes j^rcslojigus, Beaumont; their 

 galleries look like the Nasutitermes (Eutermes), but are differ- 

 ent, and the workers smaller, more elongated, and the body of 

 a chocolate color, with head, legs, and thorax white. Soldiers 

 with long, slender, black, and slightly reflexed mandibles, colored 

 like the workers, and have, when molested, a saltatory movement, 

 jumping backward and forward from oue to two inches; this 

 seems to be done by their mandibles, bringing the points together 

 and snapping them as one does the thumb and forefinger. 



Last week I emptied one of my termitariums, about a month 

 old, and found many young, of a transparent white, both work- 

 ers and nasuti, in good health api^arently. These must have 

 been fed, though there was no sign of food or fungus. It is to 

 this end that I am experimenting with my termitarium, to find 

 out how the young and nasuti are fed, and have constructed one 

 with a view to observe their inner life. They have such a habit 

 of shutting themselves up that my plans keep changing. The 

 light does not seem to trouble them so much as the breeze; they 

 are sensitive to the slightest current of air, while a strong light 

 focussed on them by a lens does not disturb them. 



I have experimented to find if they hear as we do, or not, but 

 have no results yet. Their sense of smell must be acute; no organ 

 which we possess will compare with it in sensitiveness. 



After watching their movements day after day, it is impossible 

 to doubt that in the structure of the antennae of the termites 

 there must be some combination of the optic, auditory, and 

 olfactory nerve which the microscope fails to reveal. We can 

 then, in a measure, understand their peculiar and intelligent 

 signs and movements; but how they are known in the antennal 

 language, we, with all our knowledge, are unacquainted. 



I observe they can detect vibratory movements that are not 

 sensible to our ears or touch, such as the rubbing the outside of 

 the smooth glass jar with finger-nail ; this will arouse the nasuti 

 quickly, and they will run around, sometimes stopping before a 

 worker cutting wood, to give one of their expressive jerks of 

 alarm, until the worker starts for cover. This movement is diflS- 

 cult to describe, but they balance themselves on their feet, and 



