NOTES ON INDIAN ANTS. 59 



Pheidologeton laboriosus, Smith. 



This species can generally be found in the neighbourhood of 

 Calcutta or Barrackpore, but it requires a little searching, and I do 

 not think it would attract the notice of any one but an entomologist. 

 The workers vary most immensely in size, the workers-major running 

 through several distinct grades, and no one who had not observed 

 the nest itself could suspect any connection between the noble, hand- 

 some, rich red-brown giants of the first grade with the little insigni- 

 ficant yellow workers-minor. These ants form their nests under bricks, 

 stones, flower-pots, rock- work or any spot offering shelter and shade 

 of this nature. You occasionaly meet with them on the march, 

 probably changing their head-quarters, and when doing so they 

 invariably form elaborate and carefully constructed covered ways. 

 The little yellow workers-minor and the smaller grades of the 

 workers-major you may meet with in the open, but the giant 

 workers I have never found except by opening up a nest or covered 

 way. All the workers are pugnacious, and when handled attack you 

 freely, and the small yellow workers and the smaller grades of the 

 workers-major with some effect, but the giants are perfectly harm- 

 less, and it makes one feel quite sorry to watch these huge, brave, 

 conscientious, handsome fellows doing their very utmost to grip you 

 with their mandibles, and doubling in their body, as if with the 

 intention to sting, but with absolutely no result. 



In forming their covered ways the workers-minor and the smaller 

 grades of workers-major work together most industriously, carrying 

 and piling up the little pieces of soil with great quickness and 

 dexterity, but I have never observed the giants of the first grade so 

 engaged ; they, I think, have a special work to perform, which I will 

 describe. 



On the river-drive in Barrackpore Park between Scandal Point 

 and Titaghur Bridge, and close to the latter, I found, in the first 

 week of the " rains " in 1883, a splendid covered way in course of 

 construction across the road, which at this point is about 20 ft, wide. 

 There were a large number of ants at work piling up the little red 

 pieces of soorki— (ballast ; the soil anywhere about Calcutta or Bar- 

 rackpore seems to be largely composed of brick and ballast )— and I 

 noticed several of the giant workers also very busy, not carrying or 



