314 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



out. A discussion followed, introduced by this note on the re 

 semblance between the Pacific fauna and that of Europe, and 

 various explanations for the similarity shown were suggested. 



The first paper was by Mr. Ashmead, and was entitled 

 u Some Remarks on the Characteristics that Distinguish die 

 Families of Ants." The author stated that he had separated the 

 ants into seven distinct families, five of which had been previously 

 recognized as subfamilies, and two were new divisions. It was 

 stated that the characters of the males, especially the genitalia, 

 were particularly satisfactory, enabling the prompt reference of 

 specimens, but that in the females and workers the characters 

 were less satisfactory. The paper was illustrated with sketches 

 showing structure, and examples of the seven families were ex 

 hibited.* The paper was discussed by Messrs. Banks and Pratt. 

 The latter called attention to the use of Cephalotes in Brazil as 

 food. 



The second paper was by Mr. Banks, and was entitled : 



A NEW SOLPUGID FROM CALIFORNIA. 

 By NATHAN BANKS. 



Several years ago Dr. A. Davidson, of Los Angeles, Califor 

 nia, sent me a small collection of spiders, and among them a 

 pretty little Solpugid. While studying some Mexican species 

 recently I took occasion to examine this form, and, on its prov 

 ing to be new, drew up the following description : 



Cleobis californica, n. sp. 



Length 9 mm., head 1.7 mm. long, broad 2 mm., mandibles [plus fin 

 ger] 2.5 mm. long. Head yellowish, blackish on posterior sides, eyes on 

 a black spot; mandibles yellowish, the fingers reddish; palpi pale, a 

 broad dark band on the middle of the metatarsus; legs pale, all but the 

 first pair infuscated above on the femora, tibiae, and metatarsi ; abdomen 

 rather purplish, paler at base, a median darker stripe not distinct. Front 

 border of head curved, but not as much as in some other species ; the 

 eyes small, nearly twice their diameter apart; median groove not very 

 distinct; mandibles long, the fingers long and slender, the upper one has 

 three teeth of nearly equal size, between the outer two is a smaller one, 

 and basad of the inner one there are several on the fond of the jaw; the 

 lower finger has a large tooth near base, then a much smaller one at its 

 foot, and beyond is a medium-sized tooth ; beyond this last there are seven 

 denticles, giving the finger a serrate appearance when seen from the side; 



* The paper will be published elsewhere. 



