314 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



rounded and broader behind, with slightly concave, subparallel cheeks which 

 are somewhat shorter than the eyes. Mandibles narrow, edentate. Clypeus 

 carinate, with broadly rounded anterior border. Antennse slender, first funicu- 

 lar joint incrassated at its tip, nearly as long as the second joint. Thorax 

 robust, epinotum sloping, base not more than half as long as the declivity. 

 Petiole very low and thick, transverse, its upper surface flattened and some- 

 what impressed in the middle, without a bordei*. 



Head and thorax moderately shining, the former subopaque behind ; gaster 

 smoother, surface of body very finely shagreened. 



Erect hairs pale yellow, rather abundant, covering the thorax as well as the 

 head and gaster, absent on the scapes, cheeks and legs. Femora and tibiae 

 with minute, appressed hairs. 



Brownish yellow ; posterodorsal portion of head, scutellum and upper sur- 

 face of gaster, except the anterior and posterior borders of the segments, dark 

 brown. In some specimens, the whole thorax or only its dorsal surface and 

 the epinotum are light brown. 



This variety was first veiy inadequately described by Buckley from 

 specimens taken in Texas, in all probability near Austin. I have rede- 

 scribed it from topotypes. It is represented among my material by 

 numerous specimens from the following localities : 



Texas: Austin and throughout Travis County (topotypes); San An- 

 tonio, New Braunfels, San Angelo, Marble Falls, Kenedy, Brownwood 

 and Terlingua ("Wlieeler) ; Laredo (J. F. McClendon) ; Dimmitt County 

 (Schaupp) ; Chisos Mts. (0. W. Williams) ; Abilene (A. W. Morrill) ; 

 Kerrville (F. C. Pratt) ; Lampasas (^Y. D. Hunter). 



Arizona: Xogales (Oslar) ; Huachuca Mts. (H. Skinner and Wheeler). 



Mexico: Cuernavaca (^\Tieeler) ; Guadalajara (J. F. McClendon). 



Worker major specimens, often in the same colony, are extremely 

 variable in the coloration of the head. In general they agree very well 

 with Eoger's description of C. fumidus from A'enezuela, but he does not 

 mention the erect hairs on the antennal scapes. On this account, Emery 

 regarded his specimens, which came from Colorado, as representing a 

 variety, which he called puhicornis. As there is no question in my mind 

 concerning the identity of this form with Buckley's festinatus, and as 

 long series of specimens from all the localities mentioned above show the 

 erect hairs on the antennal scapes, I believe that I am justified in con- 

 signing pubicornis to the synomTny. 



C. festinatus nests in the ground under stones, logs or dried cow dung 

 in dry sunny pastures. It forms colonies varying from a few to several 

 hundred individuals. It is extremely timid, and, as I have never seen it 

 abroad during the day-time, I infer that it must be either crepuscular or 

 nocturnal. This is also indicated by the very pale coloration of the 

 minor workers. . 



