TERMITES (WHITE ANTS). 119 
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 Robinson 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 
