792 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXL 



Hence I am of opinion that, in the case of the Microcerotermes- 

 nest under discussion, a stratification has been proved to exist 

 which is substantially the same as in the nests of the Syntermes- 

 Futermes-section. It may well be supposed that such a conformity 

 goes back to primeval conditions, and hence it is likewise conceiv- 

 able that the case before us is the expression of instincts of nest- 

 building which had been developed even in the Mesotermitido' . 

 But when we examine the construction of nests of the Mesotermi- 

 tidcB as it appears to-day, we find concentric nests onlv in the 

 Goptotermitince, a subfamily which can nowise be considered as the 

 starting point of development either for the Syntermes — or the 

 Microcerotermes-section. Our present knowledge of the Mesotermi- 

 tidce, then, proves that neither for JEutermes — nor Microcerotermes- 

 nests a common form of concentric nests can be pointed out as the 

 primitive type. Consequently we must for the time being assume 

 that the conformity of stratification in the nests of the above- 

 named sections is based on parallel development of the instincts 

 of nest-building. 



HAMITERMES SECTION. 



Gen. HAMITERMES, Silv. 



Subgen. Synhamitermes, n. subg. 



Hamitermes {Synhamitermes) quadriceps, Wasm. 

 I have before me both soldiers and workers. 

 Collector's Report : — 



Khandala, 31-5-1911. — "Termites the flat broad tunnels of 

 which were constructed in the pillars of a nest of 0. obesus form 

 e." (Assmuth.) 



Note. — The new subgenus Synhamitermes will be defined later 

 on in my " Termitenstudien." I include in it, together with 

 H. (luad/riceps, H. brevicorniger from South America. 



MIROTERMES SECTION. 



Gen. CAPRITERMES, Wasm. 



Capritermes incola, Wasm. 



Soldiers as well as workers are in my possession ; they do not 

 difi'er from Oeylonese specimens. 



