wheeler: ants of the genus formica. 553 



sloping. Gaster more shining than the head and thorax. Hairs 

 rather short, pubescence short, rather dense on the gaster, indistinct 

 elsewhere. 



Head black, thorax, antennae, petiole, and gaster dark brown, 

 genitalia scarcely paler than the gaster. Sutures of thorax, legs, and 

 tips of mandibles brownish yellow. Wings as in the female. 



Ontario: Toronto (R. J. Crew). 



Maine: Ogunquit (H. S. Pratt). 



New Hampshire: Durham (C. M. Weed). 



Massachusetts: Andover, South Natick, Sherborn (A. P. Morse); 

 Mt. Tom (G. B. King, Geo. Dimmock); Woods Hole, Boston 

 (Wheeler). 



Rhode Island: Providence (Davis). 



Connecticut: New Haven (W. E. Britton, H. L. Viereck); Salis- 

 bury, Stafford (W. E. Britton); Winsted, Norfolk, Colebrook 

 (Wheeler). 



New York: Bronxville, Mosholu (Wheeler); West Farms (J. 

 Angus). 



New Jersey: Lakehurst, Ramapo Mountains, Weasel Mount, 

 Great Notch (Wheeler); Alpine, Ft. Lee (W. Beutenmiiller) ; 

 Lucaston. 



Pennsylvania: Wliite Haven (J. C. Bradley); Chestertown (E. G. 

 Vanatta) ; Leliigh Gap. 



North Carolina : Black Mountains (W. Beutenmiiller) ; Lake Toxa- 

 way (Mrs. A. T. Slosson). 



Indiana: Pine, Shoals, Hammond, W^yandotte, New Harmony 

 (W. S. Blatchley). 



Illinois: Rockford (Wheeler). 



Wisconsin: Milwaukee (C. E. Brown). 



This is a very common form tlu-oughout the Northern States east of 

 the Mississippi. It forms small or moderately large colonies which 

 nest under stones or in obscure crater nests in open, sunny fields and 

 pastures and on grassy hill-slopes. It is an extremely timid ant, 

 usually fleeing with great precipitation when its nest is disturbed, 

 never stopping to defend itself and returning to secure its brood in a 

 furtive and hesitating manner. It lives largely on dead insects and 

 the excreta of aphids. I agree with Emery that the male and female 

 described by Mayr as belonging to this form may be more properly 

 referred to the subsp. nitidiventris. 



