126 
Psyche 
[December 
On August 15, 1930, one of the second form queens and the 
third form queen were noticed jerking themselves violently 
and exhibiting great agitation. When they came in contact 
with each other they fought vigorously. Upon separating 
they remained excited, jerking themselves in the manner 
characteristic of all disturbed termites. Workers often at- 
tempted to lick these queens, at no time showing hostility 
to them during the conflict. The other second form queen 
was not involved in the fight in any way. The fighting 
queens continued the combat whenever they came into 
chance contact after intervals of separation, each seeming 
to be equally belligerent. During a half hour they fought 
and separated ten times. In the final encounter, the second 
form queen lost a leg and the third form queen was seri- 
ously bitten on the under side of the head. After a short 
time, the queens separated and the workers and nymphs 
immediately attacked the third form queen, biting and 
chewing it for a half hour until it was quite weak. The 
workers also attempted to bite the injured leg stump of the 
second form queen, but she managed to protect herself from 
serious injury by violently jerking. Other workers, busy 
with nest repair work in close vicinity to the injured 
queens, were not observed paying any attention to these 
events. 
The termite workers and winged nymphs attacking the 
third form queen bit holes in her abdomen and head and 
seemed to give as much attention to all parts of her as they 
did to the injured parts. At any given moment seven or 
eight workers were eating this queen. The second form 
queen was licked and massaged by the workers and after 
about a half hour, the injured leg received no special notice. 
The fight was first observed at about 12 noon. At 2 P. M. 
the third form queen had been decapitated and two sepa- 
rate groups of termites were eating the head and body. 
The second form queen at this time was quiet and several 
workers were licking her with no manifest hostile actions. 
At 3 P. M. the third form queen had been entirely eaten 
and the second form queen was quiet and in good condition. 
Six days later this second form queen was still alive and 
evidently healthy. The other second form queen which 
