22 B. GEASSI AND A. SANDIAS. 



Probably the soldier imagines that his companions are the 

 cause of the disturbance. 



The king of a queenless nest was observed to be dead, but 

 a few hours later the body could not be found — a clear proof 

 that it had been devoured. This king had shown signs of ill- 

 ness a few days previously, and the population had provided 

 a certain number of substitute larvae. 



On one occasion nine examples, of which one was a soldier, 

 were detected at night in the act of devouring a royal sub- 

 stitute in process of moulting. The wretched animal was 

 still alive, and writhed all over its body to free itself from the 

 torture. The nine assassins were probably annoyed at the 

 light to which they were exposed, for they at once stopped 

 eating, and jointly carried off the victim by means of their 

 trophi to a darker part of the nest. Meanwhile many others 

 crowded up, evidently to partake in this feast of royal flesh. 



Occasionally one is seen to lick the leg of another for some 

 time, and then suddenly to bite off the tarsus. 



The tubes often contain nymphs with imperfect wings 

 which have been nibbled off by their companions ; and it is 

 remarkable that the right fore-wing is usually selected in 

 those destined to become substitute forms. This has been 

 already referred to, as has the constant mutilation of the 

 antennae in the royal pairs. The preceding observations suggest 

 as an explanation of the latter curious phenomenon that the 

 antennae have been gnawed off. Possibly the royal examples 

 bite off each other's antennae, for they are found to be already 

 mutilated in solitary royal pairs, that is without offspring. 



An individual which has been some time dead is no longer 

 eaten. 



The saliva next claims attention: it issues in connection 

 with the labium as a colourless and distinctly alkaline liquid, 

 which contains no structures discoverable with the microscope. 

 This liquid collects on the labium as a small drop, which may 

 be employed either as a cement in building or as food for 

 others. These may either possess themselves of the drop and 

 then retreat a little way to swallow it gradually, or they may 



