TERMITES (WHITE ANTS). H5 



as the tree stands upon which they are fixed. Covered galleries of the same woody 

 composition lead from the nests of these tree-building species to the ground, and 

 thence extend beneath its surface to considerable distances. 



One remaining West African Termite recorded by Smeathman invites brief 

 notice on account of the contrast its habits present in comparison with those of 

 ordinary species. He confers upon this variety the title of the Marching Termite, 

 Termes viarum. Smeathman's discovery of this species originated through his attention 

 being arrested by a loud hiss at repeated intervals, which proceeded from a spot 

 close to the pathway in the forest he was traversing. On tracing it to its source, 

 he came suddenly on an army of Termites issuing from a hole in the ground about 

 five inches in diameter. At a short distance from the hole they divided into two 

 streams or columns of some twelve or fifteen a-breast, which united again and 

 descended into other subterranean passages some few paces further on. For over an 

 hour there was no diminishing in the numbers, or even pace, of the marching army. 

 The bulk of the procession consisted of labourers, among which were distributed a 

 few soldiers, while, as if for the column's protection, numerous soldiers occupied a 

 position as sentinels on either side all along the line of march, having climbed up and 

 stationed themselves for such purpose on the leaves of the neighbouring and often 

 overhanging herbage. These marching termites were considerably larger in size than 

 the hill-constructing T. bellicosus, and were especially remarkable for the circum- 

 stance that both soldiers and labourers possessed conspicuous eyes, indicating their 

 essentially daylight proclivities. These individuals, in all the ordinary termite 

 communities, are completely blind, and carry on their works at night, or under the 

 shelter of artificially covered chambers and galleries. Although this particular species 

 of Termite has not been re-discovered by subsequent observers, it is of interest to 

 record that an eyed, daylight-working species is included among the many varieties 

 recently obtained by Dr. Haviland in Natal. 



The foregoing somewhat lengthy summary of Mr. Smeathman's observations on 

 the West African Termites has been introduced with the hope that it will prove a 

 stimulus towards the closer study of the Australian species. Many of these are 

 shown in this Chapter to be the constructors of equally remarkable habitations, and 

 while to the writer time allowed only the present record of the broad superficial 

 characters of the termitaria, a wide and interesting field is left open for the more 

 intimate investigation of their puny architects by those possessing leisure and the 

 advantage of a permanent residence within tropical Australian districts. 



