110 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [ FEB. 4, 
I find the species Termes testaceus L. far more numerous and 
destructive than I at first conceived, but have only found them 
attacking the framework of buildings and fence-posts when the 
wood is partially decayed. They have entire possession of the 
sills of our new round-house, erected only two years ago; in 
some places they have nearly eaten through the sill, commencing 
between that and the weather-board. ‘They construct galleries 
from the ground up to the wood-work, of a somewhat different 
form from those of the Hutermes; but having once entered on 
their work of destruction, they keep more concealed from ob- 
servation, having always a connection with the soil. A few days 
ago, I had the sill bared, and showed it to our General Super- 
intendent, Col. Rives, and he was astonished that such destruc- 
tive work could be done in two years, even by the united work of 
fungi and wood-ants. I cut outa short section of this yellow 
pine 8x8 sill, and it looks even worse than the sample of tie- 
beam sent to you. I think it is the same colony of Termes 
testaceus L. that is still at work. They are more difficult to ex- 
terminate than Hutermes. 
Your original and useful study of the decay of woods gave so 
much value to your advice that some treated lumber has been 
ordered for our use. This is astep in the right direction to 
prevent the destructive effects of fungi and wood-ants in this ex- 
ceptional climate. I venture to assert that the Panama Canal 
and Railroad Companies are losing thousands of dollars of 
valuable material annually from the lack of proper attention to 
these two destructive agents alone. Iam satistied that if the 
lumber imported here was prepared with some antiseptic to re- 
sist the growth of the fungi, the wood-ants would give it a wide 
berth. Such a method would not only lengthen the life of our 
cars and buildings, but greatly reduce the expense of keeping 
them in repair. 
July 4th, 1888. I send you a package to-day containing four 
different species of wood-ants, found at work on our shop build- 
ings. The contents of vial No. 1 are immature winged Lu- 
termes, two queens, with some eggs, soldiers, and workers; No. 2 
contains winged Termes testaceus L., soldiers and workers; 
No. 3 contains soldiers and workers of the smallest kind yet 
seen, which Iam unable to name; No. 4 contains winged Aw- 
termes, soldiers and workers; No. 5 contains winged ones, 
soldiers and workers. 
You call my attention to some of the worker Hutermes hav- 
ing darker heads and bodies than others. This difference, I 
observe, is common in all the nests examined, and I think it 
entirely due to age. The youngest and smallest are of a trans- 
parent white, and shade to those having dark-brown bodies and 
black heads. 
