324 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



3. Mesothorax with sides margined, in profile angulate 'behind middle, the 

 posterior face almost perpendicular to the mesoepinotal impression; 



body without erect hairs above abrupta Mann. 



Mesonotum not margined, evenly convex in profile; body pilose above. 



nesiotis Mann. 



52. VoLLENHOViA PEDESTRis (F. Smith). 



Myrmica pedestris F. Smith, Journ. proc. Linn. soc. London. Zool., 1862, 6, 

 p. 46, y . 



Santa Cruz : Graciosa Bay. Santa Anna. San Cristoval : Wai-ai 

 Pamua, Wainoni Bay. Ugi: Pawa. Malaita: Auki. Ysabel: 

 Fulakora. 



This is the most widely distributed species of Vollenhovia and one 

 of the commonest ants in the Solomons. The colonies are found 

 beneath bark and in rotten wood where some humidity is present. 

 They make well-defined runways beneath the bark and move along 

 these, more or less in file. One colony, seen at Ugi, was composed of 

 many thousands of individuals and occupied the entire interior of a 

 hollowed log lying on the ground. In collecting from this nest I was 

 stung repeatedly, but the sting was not severe. 



53. Vollenhovia subtilis Emery. 



Ann. Mus. civ. stor. nat. Genova, 1887, 25, p. 454, y 9 . 



San Cristoval: Pamua, Wai-ai, Wainoni Bay. Malaita: Auki. 



Found nesting beneath bark. My specimens agree with Emery's 

 description of workers of the typical form from Key Island which have 

 the epinotimi smooth and shining at middle. 



The variety affinis Emery described from New Guinea is not repre- 

 sented among my material. 



54. Vollenhovia loboii, sp. nov. 

 Worker. Length L50 mm. 



Head much longer than broad, with subparallel sides and rather narrowly 

 concave occipital border. Mandibles 5-dentate. Antennae short, their 



