TERMITES EROM THE AUSTRALIAN REGION. 
Measuremen.ts . — 
Total length 
Head, ])osterior margin to apex of labrnm, long. 
,, ])o,sterior margin to dypeofrontal siitiire 
long 
,, wide 
Antennae, long 
Pronotnm, long 
,, wide 
Tibia iii, long 
Abdomen, wide 
Hta])leton (tyjie locality) ; 
locality . — Northern Territory : 
win, Bathurst Island (G.F.H.). 
mm. 
3 
30-3 
50 
0 
03 1 
27 
0 
60-0 
76 
0 
85-0 
91 
1.08 
0 
22-0 
32 
0 
46-0 
51 
0-54 
0-01 
a lit} 
) ; Dar- 
Biology . — Soldiers from the same colony vary very little in size, 
but individuals from different nests often show noticeable differences 
in this respect. In the worker caste there appear to be several 
intermediates between the small and the large forms. The type 
series was taken on 1.1.13 from the termitarium shown in Big. 220, 
which was composed almost entirely of an intensely hard woody 
composition aiul was situated in lightly timbered, undulating country. 
Alate imagos were numerous and active when disturbed. A second 
colony was found on the same date iu the earthy wall of a termi- 
tariuni of Coptotermes achmciforniis (Frogg.), which also contained 
colonies of Miroterines orhas, n. sp. and Hamifermes {Drepamtermss) 
septentriomlis Hill. The following additional colonies were taken in 
the localities stated : Stapleton, 23.12.12 : A complete series from 
a termitarium similar to that illustrated by Fig. 220 ; 12 inches high 
by 4 inches in diameter at the base ; u])per part of nest occupied by 
a colony of ants (Iridomynnex smyjnwe'us Forel). Darwin, 1.4.13 : 
Soldiers and workers in trunk of coco-nut palm previously damaged 
l>y weevils ; trunks of several dead palms were similarly infested. 
Stapleton, December, 1013 : A small colony, including alate forms, 
under log. Batchelor, 17.7.13 : Soldiers and workers from a termi- 
tariun; similar to that illustrated, but constructed of earth and 
comminuted wood ; on ill-drained, flat country. Stapleton, 5.11.14 : 
A complete series from a nest composed of comminuted wood and 
earth, built 4 feet from the ground on the trunk of an Eucalyptus 
tree ; nest connected with ground by a series of passages under a 
common protective casing of clayey material. Similar nests w^ere 
very plentiful on the boggy country in the vicinity of a creek ; all 
cf)ntained soldiers, ivorkers and alate imagos, but no cpieens or eggs 
(as in typical nests on well-drained country in the near vicinity). 
These arboreal nests are abandoned during the dry season. 
Types (imago, soldier and worker) in the National Museum of 
Victoria. 
