76 Notice of a fossil Termes. 



Its head is large, rounded, and narrow behind, presenting 

 a longitudinal depression and spot on the middle of the fore- 

 head. The mandibula do not exceed the length of the 

 upper-lip, the four palpes are distinct, the shortest labials 

 have four joints, of which the two first joints are very small, 

 the third securiform, and the last conical and elongated. The 

 maxillary palpes have five joints, the last of which appears 

 bifid. The antennae longer than the head augment towards 

 the extremity ; they are moniliform, and composed of fifteen 

 distinct joints, the first cylindrical, and larger than all the 

 others; the last is somewhat oval. The proto-thorax is very 

 small ; the meso-thorax and meta-thorax narrower than the 

 abdomen, form two hemispheric parts. The anterior extre- 

 mities are much separated from the others, the posterior are 

 much longer, with a membranous elevation slightly folded be- 

 tween the haunches. The tarsi are composed of four or five 

 joints, the last of which is very long, curved, and terminated 

 by two distinct hooks. The abdomen is (effile) having cer- 

 tain traces of transverse folds, and its extremity furnished 

 with two appendices as in the Blattae. The eyes are hid 

 by air-bubbles, and are impossible to be seen ; it is the same 

 with the wings, if (which is doubtful) these insects have 

 wings. The body is yellowish, and almost transparent. 



We remark that the insect adheres by one of its feet to a 

 round body which is silky and slightly indented, which we 

 may consider as an egg or shell. According to the character 

 which I have given, this insect differs from adult Termites, 

 which have their antennas more filiform, and composed of 

 seventeen joints. 



M. Latreille in his Natural History of Crustaceas and 

 Insects gives us the following details on the Termes lucifu- 

 gum of the vicinity of Bordeaux. 



At a certain period, he says, the society of these Termes is 

 composed of four sorts of individuals, we find two which re- 

 main always without wings, which are elongated, active, soft, 



