1890.] Contribution to the Knowledge of the Termites. 1119 
that the existence of such a king appears certain beyond 
doubt, from the manifold statements of reliable observers, and 
from numerous specimens of such nest-dwellers (Hagen 12, page 
16, and at other places). And I also have found the king with 
eight or nine species of the genus Calotermes (rugosus, nodulosus, 
hagenü), Termes lespesii, Eutermes inquilinus, Anoplotermes 
pacificus, and others. 
At the time of the swarming the reproductive organs are very 
small; after the return to the nest they grow so large that they 
fill the greater part of that sometimes much-swollen hinder part 
of the body. So there is no doubt about the probable, often- 
repeated fructification in the interior of the nest; by this, of 
course, a former fructification outside of the nest is not excluded, 
though it is very uncertain at the time of the swarming, for the 
reproductive organs (testicle and ovary) are then so little devel- 
oped. Burmeister could not discover the interior reproductive parts 
of the winged animals, even of one of the larger species (Termes 
dirus); and also Dr. Hagen examined many (alcohol) specimens 
of winged Termites without finding reproductive organs. (Com- 
munication by letter of Nov. 25th, 1871.) 
Some even take the majority of a Termite swarm as sterile 
individuals. By this it can be understood how small the repro- 
ductive parts of the winged animals are in comparison to their 
later enormous circumference; for example, I will state that with 
the winged males of our largest Eutermes species the reproduc- 
tive organ (testicle) is scarcely 0.3 mm. in diameter. If the 
Termites possessed the seed-thread of the other insects, so 
striking to the eye as scarcely to be mistaken, then would the ques- 
tion be easy enough to decide whether the winged males would be 
able to fertilize the females outside of the nest. In mature kings 
(sexual males) of different species I found in the reproductive 
organ (testicle), only partly larger, very pale, roundish little bodies 
of about 0.008 mm. in diameter (with Zutermes vernalis, mascu- 
line) which seem to be without a cover. If water is added it in- 
creases in size as large again as before. Partly smaller ones, 
pretty strong and light-refracting little balls, have been found, 
scarcely 0.002 mm. in diameter. The former are probably the 
