Smith. — 0)i New Zealand Ants. 4:77 



iug about in the nests. The Acavians and Thysanura, ah-eady 

 mentioned, are generally found in the nests of this species. 

 On the 28th November, 1893, we discovered a somewhat large 

 colony under a stone lying near some plants of Carmichcslia 

 nana. The roots of the latter were growhig under the stone, 

 and were badly infested with the Bvpersia. The fine sand had 

 been removed from under the roots, and left them clear in the 

 nest. Attached to the roots were numbers of BIpersics, some 

 of which the workers seized and removed to dark recesses 

 in the nest. The ants had to climb up about 2in. of tlie 

 perpendicular side of the nest to reach the horizontal roots. 

 They each seized a Coccid, returned back along the root, 

 walked down the wall, and disappeared into the recesses of 

 the nest. It is therefore clear that the habit of preserving 

 Coccids in their nests is general among the native Monomoria. 

 Mr. Maskell states that the secretions yielded by these minute 

 Coccids cannot be much. The species preserved by the ants 

 are perhaps the only subterranean forms which secrete sweet, 

 or at least edible, substances, so much sought after by the 

 ants. Even the small amount secreted by some species is 

 apparently sufficient to warrant our minute ants in protecting 

 and preserving them in their nests. B. formicicola is a beau- 

 tiful object when examined alive on a shaded field of the 

 microscope. 



Prolascus advena, Smith {= Formica advena, Smith; Preno- 

 lopis advena, Mayr) : This peculiar ant is not uncommon on 

 the Canterbury Plains. It is generally found in very large 

 colonies, especially in limestone districts and in warm, rocky 

 valleys sheltered from cold winds. The same habit of haunt- 

 ing tiie habitats of Coccids holds good with this as with the 

 preceding species. As this ant is somewhat I'are about Ash- 

 burton, I have not been able to study its habits and economy 

 so fully as other species. It is a very timid and excitable 

 ant, and no sooner is the stone raised off their nests than they 

 present a scene of bustle and excitement. I have only twice 

 seen them carrying Coccids about in their nests: but any 

 further remarks on this ant I withhold for the present. 



Sivanning of Ants. — The calm, sultry days of February and 

 March bring forth vast swarms of young ants to seek "fresh 

 woods and pastures new" wherein to establish young colonies. 

 For weeks before they take flight the nests are crowded with 

 winged ants awaiting the proper time and natural conditions 

 to do so. Seven years ago I recorded in the Field our meeting 

 with a vast swarm of M. nitidum when driving across the 

 Plains from Ashburton to Mount Somers. When we met the 

 swarm we were moving at a walking-pace, and halted to 

 witness it passing over us. In a few seconds horse, trap, and 

 occupants were covered with minute winged ants. I alighted 



