TERMITES FROM BRITISH INDIA. 785 



nests of this species consists of a tolerablj^ solid, more or less 

 semigiobalar, base-structure which, however, is apparently not so 

 much impregnated with salivary secretions and consequently not 

 hardened to such a degree as the corresponding part of o&es?(s- nests. 

 It rises sometimes as high as 4 feet above ground (in one case 

 I measured even 6 feetj and is crowned hj a number of rounded 

 (not pointed as the turrets of ohesus) domes or cupolas of the 

 height of 1 foot or so. The domes, which are not solid but riddled 

 all over with small holes, are of poor consistence so that one can 

 easily crumble them between the fingers ; the holes serve a& 

 passages for the termites. The colour of the soil used for con- 

 structing the moimds of this species round Kirkee is black (that 

 oi ohestis at Khandala reddish-brown). — Three queens taken in this 

 nest, each enclosed in separate cell ; these cells built close together, 

 about 2 feet above ground. No king found in any of the cells, 

 but this failure perhaps to be accounted for by lack of time which 

 made careful search impossible. The fact that queens' chambers 

 were all sit^^.ated so high above ground makes me believe that the 

 three cjueens taken b}^ me were received into nest only a couple of 

 years after its foundation, the original royal pair probably having- 

 their quarters lower down in nest. I opened merely upper portion 

 of mound, so no chance to come across primitive royal chamber. 

 Fungus beds similar to photo 4. Soldiers when biting secrete 

 drop of milk}' fluid like those of 0. ohemis ; but quantity of liquid 

 secreted by 0. hrunneus more abundant and consequently broAvn 

 spot appearing on skin after liquid drying up, larger as well as 

 more lasting. Photo 7 shows palm of my right hand taken 4 days 

 after examining this nest. It was only 6 days later that the spots 

 finally disappeared." (Assmuth). 



10-5-1911. — "Low mound on flower-bed in garden. Queen 

 about half a foot below surface of ground." (Assmuth). 



13-5-1911. — "Mound of moderate size standing by itself in 

 garden. Royal cell with king and queen in middle of nest, level 

 with surrounding ground," (Assmuth). 



15-5-1911. — "Very small young nest at foot of babul tree. 

 Queen, with abdomen of strikingly white colour, and king taken." 

 (Assmuth). 

 9 



