^'^^ found in Southern India. {^ 



/id-da ^^^Eciton ? rufonigrum, Jcrdon (p. 11 1). ^^' 



Worker, length about ^|ths of an inch ; head square ; antennae 

 short, first joint thickened ; very long palpi ; eyes large, lateral, 

 posterior ; jaws somewhat linear, oblong, with two strong teeth at 

 the external angle, and bluntly toothed in the rest of its extent ; 

 thorax slightly grooved ; abdominal pedicles very little elevated, 

 first very long ; abdomen long, ovoid ; thorax, legs, abdominal 

 pedicles and antennae rufous ; head and abdomen black. This 

 ant is very common in the Carnatic, less so in Malabar. It 

 makes its nests in holes of trees, old palings, bamboo rafters, 

 and such like; it does not care for sweets, is never seen on 

 flowers, but devours dead animal matter. I have not seen the 

 female. It stings very severely. 



"^ 15. Eciton nigrum^ Jerdon (p. 112). 



Worker, length /^ths of an inch ; head long ; eyes large, 

 medial ; antennse short, the first joint not being so long as the 

 head ; jaws somewhat square, bluntly toothed ; thorax low, 

 barely grooved ; both abdominal pedicles rounded, low ; abdo- 

 men long, oval ; sting very large. Colour uniform black. Fe- 

 male, length l^^ths of an inch ; differs from the worker only in 

 having wings. This ant, like the last, is rare in Malabar, but 

 tolerably common in parts of the Carnatic ; it has the same 

 habits as the last, living in holes of trees, &c., and feeds on the 

 same matter. I have found, on cutting open a dead branch on 

 which they had formed their nest, many winged females, and 

 larvae and pupse in different states of development. 



16. Eciton rufipes, Jerdon (p. 112). 



Worker, length ^Jths of an inch; head oblong; eyes very 

 large, slightly advanced; thorax considerably grooved; abdo- 

 minal pedicles long, low; abdomen long, ovate, black, with 

 rufous legs. 



I have only found this species on one occasion under a stone 

 in the Salem district, and know not if it has the dendrophilous 

 habits of the two last. 



17. Eciton minutum, Jerdon (p. 112). 



Worker about ^th of an inch long, black throughout, very 

 slender ; legs rather thick ; palpi much exposed. I regret that 

 I have not at present a specimen of this little ant to describe 

 from more fully. Its general structure, however, is exceedingly 

 similar to that of its congeners, from which its small size suffi- 

 ciently distinguishes it. I have found it both in the Carnatic 

 and in Malabar, almost always on trees, but do not know if it 



