3 88 NEUROPTERA chap. 



figure, is still visible on the specimen from which it was drawn, 

 and gives rise to a whitish, glaucous appearance. 



In various parts of the world nests formed on trees by Termites 

 are to be seen ; these tree nests are, it woiild appear, in some cases 

 only parts of a community, and are connected with the main body 

 by galleries. In other cases nests are formed in various positions of 

 advantage ; Messrs. Hubbard and Hagen have given us an account ^ 

 of some of these — probably the work of EuUrmes ripperti — as seen 

 in Jamaica. They describe the nests as spherical or conical masses, 

 looking externally as if composed of loamy earth ; they are placed 

 on trees, fences, or walls ; they vary in size from that of a man's 

 fist to that of a hogshead ; they appear to be composed of finely 

 comminuted wood fastened together by saliva. These nests are 

 formed on the same principle as those of the wasps that make 

 nests hanging to trees and bushes, as they consist of an external 

 protecting envelope covering a comb-like mass in the interior. 

 At the bottom of the nest there is a covered gallery leading to 

 the earth, where the main nest appears to be situate ; galleries 

 also are constructed so as to lead to the tops of trees and other 

 , places, in such a manner that the Termite can still keep up its 

 peculiarity of working and travelling in tunnels and yet roam 

 over a large area ; the activity of these Termites continues day 

 and night. In each nest there is a queen, who lays eggs that 

 are removed by the worker Termites to the bottom of the nest. 

 The young are fed on a prepared food, consisting apparently of 

 comminuted vegetable matter, of which considerable masses are 

 laid in store. Some of the nests are rich in containing many 

 pounds' weight of this material, while others are apparently quite 

 destitute of it. There is a soldier form and at least two kinds of 

 workers. Some species of true ant frequently shares the nest of 

 these white ants, but on what terms the two kinds of Insects live 

 together is not stated. 



Termite Ravages. — In countries whose climate is favourable 

 to their constitutions certain kinds of Termites become of great 

 importance to our own species. Owing to their taste for woody 

 matter and to their habit of working in concealment, it is no 

 uncommon thing for it to be discovered that Termites have 

 obtained access to a building and have practically destroyed the 

 wooden materials used in its construction ; all the interior of the 



' P. Boston Soc. xix. 1878, yt. 267 ; and xx. 1881, p. 121. 



