TERMITES (WHITE ANTS). H9 



may be suitably referred to here as the Kimberley type. It is very abundant in the 

 thinly-wooded scrubs, or so-called "pindan," adjacent to Roebuck Bay, but attains to 

 its most luxuriant phase of development near the township of Derby at the head of 

 King's Sound. The several photographs of these Kimberley termitaria reproduced 

 in Plates XVI. to XIX. were obtained in this neighbourhood, and will suffice 

 to show how exceeding variable the external contours of individual hillocks 

 may be. Throughout the entire series, however, it will be recognised that one 

 very peculiar and characteristic plan of construction is predominant. They all 

 present the appearance of having been built up, as it were, by the super- 

 position of consecutive bucketsful of half solidified mortar, which, before setting, has 

 partly overflown and overlapped the preceding instalments. The greatest altitude 

 of this description of termitary that has been observed by the author was fourteen 

 feet, that being the measurement of the example photographically reproduced in Plate 

 XVIII., fig. A. As clearly .indicated in this figure, the individual termitarium had 

 passed the zenith of its development, and was already much weathered and eroded 

 on its upper surface. 



The contours of some of the termitaria constructed by this Kimberley White 

 Ant are most fantastic and grotesque. In Plate XVII., the summit of the larger 

 fore-ground hillock presents a remarkable resemblance to the head of a lop-eared 

 spaniel or retriever, with its tongue partially protruding. It is, moreover, worthy 

 of remark that this singular resemblance was not noticed at the time of taking 

 the photograph, though immediately recognised with the pulling of the first print. 

 Plate XIX., figs. A and B are yet more grotesque in aspect, and, as a 

 matter of fact, portray two different views of the same termitarium. In fig. A, 

 the general contour is not unlike that of a primitive form of locomotive engine, which 

 for some unexplained reason has become embedded in a thick coating of clay ; the 

 indication of the chimney, with its terminal spark-catcher, being particularly prominent. 

 In the second view of the same termitary, fig. B, there is a ludicrous likeness to a 

 group of human figures, clad in voluminous, fleece-like garments. A man resembling 

 the stereotyped delineations of Father Christmas or Kobinson Crusoe, with a pack on 

 his back, leads the way, and is followed by what might be his better half, wearing 

 what bears a suspicious resemblance to a divided skirt, combined with the very 

 latest fashion in balloon sleeves. A matronly woollen cap, corresponding with the 

 top of the engine chimney in the previous view, adorns her head. To her right 

 there would appear to be the indication of a child similarly muffled up in shaggy 



