FORMICA. ANT. 
Generic Character. 
Caput magnum, antennis 
diffractis, filiformibus. 
Os maxillosum, pal pis qua- 
tuor insequalibus. 
Thorax postice angustatus, 
squamula erecta. 
.Abdomen subglobosum. 
Alte maribus et. feminis: 
neutris nullae. 
Aculeus feminis et neutris, 
reconditus. 
Head large, with diffracted 
filiform antennee. 
Mouth with large jaws, and 
four unequal feelers. 
Thorax narrowed behind, 
and furnished with an up- 
right scale. 
Abdomen subglobose. 
Males and Females winged : 
Neutrals apterous. 
Females and Neutrals fur- 
nished with a concealed 
sting. 
JL HE insects of this genus live in large societies, 
somewhat in the manner of Bees and Wasps, and 
are like them divided into males, females, and 
neutrals, which latter constitute the great or gene- 
ral assortment, and appear to conduct the busi- 
ness of the nest, which is usually placed at a small 
distance from the surface in some slight elevation 
either prepared by the insects themselves or pre- 
viously formed by some other animals, as Aloles, 
&c. They feed both on animal and vegetable sub- 
