NOTES ON INDIAN ANTS. 49 



compared in power to rufo-nigra. There is a species of Salticus which 

 mimics this ant, but it is very rare, and there is another spider which 

 also frequents tree-trunks, and closely mimics ;i Camponotus. 



CEcophylla smaragdina, Fabr. 



This well-known ant is common in Bengal, and forms its nests in 

 trees by drawing together the living leaves with a fine white web, as 

 described in Jerdon's ' Madras Journal.' In 1883 immense numbers 

 of this ant appeared in Barrackpore, advancing from tree to tree 

 along the trunk-road from Calcutta, and they soon took up a strong 

 position in the Park ; some of the trees were covered with nests, 

 which are very populous. I noticed that the various nests on any one 

 tree appeared to form one colony, and to live on friendly terms, 

 whereas the ants on a neighbouring tree would be inimical; this I 

 proved by keeping a nest in my verandah for several weeks at a 

 time, and trying a few simple experiments. I found that ants 

 brought from any nest from the same tree as my captive nest were 

 immediately recognised as friends, and received with evident signs of 

 satisfaction ; but specimens brought from nests from any other tree 

 were immediately attacked, and unless rescued were killed in the 

 most savage manner. The longest test was only three or four weeks, 

 for by that time my captive ants always began to show signs of 

 failing health, so that I never had the heart to keep them shut up 

 for a longer period. I tried to keep them healthy by a daity supply 

 of fresh leaves, and fed them with sugar, plantains, and other fruits ; 

 but they took most kindly to green Geometra larvae taken from 

 newly-made nests of Eumcncs conica, which were generally handy in 



the verandah, but either captivity did not agree with them, or I 

 failed in my mode of treatment, for after the third week my captives 



invariably became more or less feeble and sickly. The following are 



extracts from my diary : — 



May Gth. Brought home with me (with considerable difficulty) a 



fine strong nest of CEcophylla smaragdina, and arranged a comfortable 



home for it in a large open box in my verandah, isolating it by 



standing the box on a tin pot resting on a large brick, the brick 



standing in a large earthenwere saucer of water. 



May 24th. Introduced four ants taken from another nest, but 

 7 



