1889. ] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 99 
from in almost every direction, in search of choice wood or ma- 
terial to work upon and devour. 
When I took down the side of my window-casing, it was a 
wonderful sight to behold,—thousands of milk-white ants, sol- 
diers and workers only. I secured a number of workers, as they 
soon disappear. ‘The soldiers evidently thought they would 
secure me, and bit viciously at my hand; their mandibles, once 
fixed, stayed until pulled off by force, separating their bodies 
before letting go their hold. I secured several fine samples of 
their galleries. The whole window-frame is destroyed, and will 
be replaced by a new one,—when more treasure may be found. 
What interested me most were the places where they broke 
through the surface of the paint,—?he holes would be carefully 
puttied. On breaking them open, the ants could be seen filling 
them again, the soldiers always standing guard around the edge, 
as with Hutermes. I caught sight of the workers bringing the 
grains of material and placing them in position carefully, but 
not turning around and cementing them together as the Hu- 
termes do. ‘These grains were of a reddish color, soft and pasty. 
They were always of the same nature, as though prepared for 
the occasion. Under the lens they looked like little pellets of 
some adhesive substance. I will send you some to be analyzed. 
I feel gratified by having my observations made known to 
such a good authority as Dr. Hagen, and still more to learn from 
him that they were of some value. I wish there was some 
authority here for me to consult on the subject, but there is 
none save my own observations. I trust these are made as care- 
fully as possible, and that they will be criticised in the same 
manner. 
The remarks in your letter made by Dr. Hagen, on certain 
ants vomiting masticated wood, throw a little light on some of 
my notes, and happily may verify his statement on this point. 
I do not think my observations will allow me to agree entirely 
with him that two or more species of Termites occupy the same 
nest. 
Mr. Clark, chief engineer of the steamer City of Para, was 
with me this morning, and I took him out to see my ants (Zu- 
termes) repair their galleries. I broke one on a lignum-vite 
cross-tie; and in five minutes, to my delight, he saw them, with 
the naked eye, turn around after placing the grain, and with 
my lens saw the secretion deposited. He is the first one to 
whom I have shown this. The little workers repaired about 
one-eighth of the break while under observation. 
May 13th, 1888. When going to my house this morning, I 
found tracks of Hutermes on a box of plants belonging to my wife; 
