CONSTITUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TERMITES. 61 



the left cercus is excavated on its inner side for partial recep- 

 tion of the penis (vide infra). 



Nine sternites, the second to the tenth, can be made out, 

 but the tenth is scarcely distinguishable in the adult male. It 

 exhibits the anal fissure in both sexes. Sexual appendices 

 are wanting in the female. The male imago possesses 

 a long, conical penis^ traversed by an internal canal 

 (PI. 19, fig. 6) ; it arises from the ninth sternite 

 and is prolonged on to the tenth, beyond which it 

 projects some distance. It is asymmetrical in 

 position, and directed to the left so as to terminate 

 under the left apophysis of the tenth tergite and 

 in the cavity of the left cercus. The right apo- 

 physis can be directed downwards and to the left, 

 so as to be flexed under the penis. 



Probably the excavation of the cercus and the 

 two apophyses serve to fix the penis during the 

 act of coitus, the left apophysis acting above, the 

 right below, and the cercus laterally. 



From the external characters I pass to a description of the 

 habits of the Embia. 



This insect is tolerably common at Catania, and inhabits 

 localities which are neither very moist nor very dry; it is 

 particularly fond of very stony ground. In some places it 

 occurs singly, in others eight or ten together may be found 

 under a stone. 



From November to May they remain under stones in silken 

 galleries constructed by themselves, much longer than their 

 body and ramifying. These galleries are attached by means 

 of threads or small webs to vegetable rubbish (dead grass or 

 dry leaves), or to stones on the ground; every gallery may 

 exhibit one or more exit-holes, and those of different examples 

 living together under the same stone communicate with each 

 other. 



From May to July they live in similar galleries, but at a 

 depth of 10 to 15 cm. below the surface of the ground, so as 



