MANN: THE ANTS OF BRAZIL. 421 



54. Ecitoii (Labidus) coecum (Latreille). 



Ceara, Baturite Mts., Natal, Independencia, and Para, Brazil and 

 at Abiina, Bolivia. This is the most widely distributed and one of the 

 commonest species. It is subterranean in habit, and often found 

 beneath deeply embedded stones and logs. The specimens from 

 Abuna were taken from beneath the putrid carcass of a sheep, and 

 most of the individuals were dead or nearly so, possibly having been 

 overcome by the gases of decomposition. 



55. Eciton (Labidus) praedator F. Smith. 



Common along the upper Rio Madeira, where it was taken at Porto 

 Velho and Camps 28 and 39 Madeira-Mamore R. R. One army was 

 seen emerging from the commissary building at the first named sta- 

 tion, carrying with it an incredible number of insects, mostly cock- 

 roaches. Houses along the railroad were frequently raided at night 

 by E. prcedator, which is well known to the Brazilians and called by 

 them "cazadoro" (hunter). I had the opportunity of observing one 

 hut while the ants were in possession. The ground was covered with 

 the ants, which swarmed also in the cracks and on the few pieces of 

 furniture, while the owner of the place, a Barbados negress, not 

 accustomed to such intrusions, stood for safety in a puddle of soapy 

 water with which she had attempted to drive the ants away, and 

 begged me to tell her what to do to get rid of them. 



56. Eciton (Labidus) praedator subsp. emiliae, subsp. nov. 



Worker. Differing from the typical form in having the head and 

 body largely opaque; the head more densely punctulate; the thorax 

 and petiole with very few hairs. The pilosity of the gaster is much 

 shorter and the pubescence is more dense; the color is reddish brown, 

 becoming darker on the head. 



A large series of this new subspecies was sent to me by Dr. Emilia 

 Snethlage, who collected it at Colonia de Veado, near Obidos. Possi- 

 bly this is the var. ferruginea Norton, which was described from 

 Mexico, but has not been recognized since. 



