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Sub-family TERMiTiNiK. 



In this division the scapular shield is angular, slightly rounded above, 

 but transverse below, traversed by four distinct parallel nervures. The 

 costal and sub-costal nervures running parallel but widely separated from 

 €ach other, with the median and sub-median slender, the former divided 

 into one or more forks at the apex. It contains three well-defined genera, 

 two of which, Termts and Eutermes, have a wide range, but Coptotermes 

 is confined to the Old World and Australia. 



It appears to me that the genera of this group represent the typical 

 •white ants that probably were in the first instance arboreal insects, like 

 the Eutermes, where the soldiers had the head produced into a snout or 

 tubular process above the mouth connected with a chamber occupying the 

 greater portion of the posterior part of the head, which contained a honey- 

 like liquid that could be forced at will through the snout, and be used as 

 a means of offence or defence. In the Coptotermes we find an intermediate 

 group of termites that possess the chamber at the base of the head in a 

 more modified manner, connected with a channel opening out as a circular 

 aperture in front of the head, through which a similar fluid can be dis- 

 charged, but at the same time this is supplemented by a pair of stout 

 cutting jaws with which the soldier can snip off the head of an enemy, as 

 well as smother him with this viscid matter. These may have at one time 

 combined the terrestrial and arboreal habits, and thus connect the true 

 ground-haunting Termites which, furnished with a pair of stout cutting 

 jaws, do not possess the apparatus that enables them to discharge an 

 offensive fluid to rout their enemies. 



In the writings of Messrs. Silvestri, Wasmann, and recent describers, 

 a number of new genera have been added to this sub-family, but with our 

 present knowledge of the subject I see no reason to split up our Termitince 

 into more than these three well-defined groups. 



Genus I. — Termes. 



These termites have large rounded heads, furnished with large promi- 

 nent eyes composed of many facets, small ocelli, situated between the eyes, 

 and antennse composed of rounded bead-like segments, varying in number 

 from 13 to 20. The prothorax heart-shaped, flattened and smaller than 

 the head; the wings ample, and often clouded or semi-transparent. The 

 jaws of the soldiers are produced in front of the head and are regular in 

 form, and, when toothed, with the same number of serrations on either 

 side. 



This group contains a number of the most typical white ants, many of 

 which build well-defined nests or termitaria, in which they live in count- 

 less numbers, or colonies of only a few hundred. Ten species have been 

 recorded from Australia from all parts of the continent. 



