m 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



No. I.— THE DESTRUCTIVE WORK OF TERMITES. 



In yesterday's Nature there occurs a passage (quoted below) referring to 

 '" the attack of fungi on timber or trees previous to the destruction of the 

 wood by Termitidce" in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad. The Editor 

 observes that, " so far as observations at present go, it seems that the primary 

 cause of the destruction of wood by termites is the mycelium of some 

 fungus." 



Now " the mycelium of some fungus " is an usual agent in what we call 

 " rot " in Wood, especially in living wood. But it seems to require something 

 to go before. Insufficient nutriment, heat, light, or ventilation ; unsuitable 

 environment in the case of exotics ; or even wounds inflicted by man or 

 natural forces are apt to make the plant a fit subject of attack to the fungus. 



In the course of many years ' observation of white-ants' work in our province, 

 I found that where the white-ants' covered ways are on the stem of a tree there 

 will be broken or diseased branches higher up. The white-ant follows death 

 and disease ; he does not cause it. But when we come to his attacks on dead 

 vegetable matter, such as paper, and animal matter, such as boots or leathern 

 book covers, is there previous disease to prepare his way ? Apparently sound 

 deal boxes are often attacked. Are they really in a state of decay, only to be 

 detected by the white-ant or in the laboratory ? Is an infection of some 

 mould or other the cause of his attacks upon carpets ? In short, is he simply 

 an eater of dead vegetable and animal matter, or of the fungi that attack it ? 

 And is the attack of the fungus a condition precedent to that of white-ant 

 in all or most cases ? 



Our members have a good deal of opportunity to observe white-ants, and 

 a few microscopic observations upon boots and books would probably yield 

 results very well worthy of record. 



W. F. SINCLAIR, late I.C.S. 



London, 27 th November, 1896. 



The passage referred to : — 



A short time ago Mr. J. H. Hart mentioned, in the Bulletin of miscellaneous information 

 published at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad) that there was evidence of the attack of 

 fungi on timber or trees previous to the destruction of the wood by Termitidm. He returns 

 to the subject in the October Bulletin, wherein he states that the mycelium of a fungus 

 could be readily traced in all parts of the tissue of a number of specimens attacked by 

 Termites. That it is really a fungus which attacks the wood, the experiments at Trinidad 

 prove conclusively, and that Termites follow the attack is also clearly shown. The only 

 doubtful point is whether the wood-ants do at any time or in any case attack sound timber. 

 So far as obervations at present go> it seems that the primary cause of the destruction of 

 wood by Termites is the mycelium of some fungus. {Nature.) 



