CONSTITUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OP TERMITES. 49 



aud that the eiidoplasm may contain more or less solid food 

 material ; when this is uot the case it is abundantly filled with 

 granules of different sizes, usually very minute. The apparatus 

 described at the anterior pole cannot possibly be regarded as a 

 buccal organ. 



The fiagella remain for description. They arise from the 

 striated zone in distinct longitudinal rows^ and I believe from 

 the examination of many preparations that they take origin 

 from the longitudinal ridges which separate the sulci. Their 

 number is very large ; they are shortest in front, and gradually 

 increase in length from before backwards, so that the longest 

 posterior fiagella greatly exceed the body in length. 



The anterior fiagella are variable, and may be directed either 

 forwards or backwards, whereas the posterior are always 

 directed somewhat obliquely backwards, so as to describe a 

 spiral figure round the body : in spite of their length, they 

 rarely arise from the posterior extremity. The animal's move- 

 ments are rapid, and may follow a helical course. 



The dense granular protoplasm forming the mass of the 

 bottle-shaped structure is very scanty in many examples, so 

 that the nucleus lies in a more forward position. 



III. 



MicROJOENiA HEXAMiTOiDES, gen. et sp., Grassi (PI. 20^ 

 fig. 10). ' Atti Ace. Lincei' (5) i, p. 36 (1892). 



Of relatively small size, never exceeding 45 fx in length, 

 and consequently less than the shortest specimens of Tri- 

 chonympha agilis. Oval in shape, prolonged behind into 

 a more or less prominent mucro. Intermediate in characters 

 between Joenia and Trichonympha. 



As in the latter genus, the anterior extremity is destitute of 

 fiagella, and is delimited by a very thin layer of dense ecto- 

 plasm, beneath which is a clear space or lacuna. The fiagella 

 originate from a striated zone corresponding with that of 

 Trichonympha. A subaxial skeletal rod can be exception- 

 ally made out, as in Joenia. The nucleus is in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the anterior pole. 



VOL. 40, PAJJT 1. — NEW SEE. D 



