MANN: ANTS OF THE FIJI ISLANDS. 433 



24. Pheidole avilsoni, sp. nov. 

 Soldier. Length 2.7.1 mm. 



Head one fifth longer than broad, shghtly narrowed in front, sides nearly 

 straight, occipital corners broadly rounded, border narrowly and rather deeply 

 excised at middle; vertex transversely impressed. ^^laiidibles bidentate at 

 tip and with an obtuse tooth at base of blades. ChT^eus flat, very feebly 

 concave at middle of anterior border. Antennal scapes extending distinctly 

 more than half the distance to occipital corners; first funicular joint nearly as 

 long as the three following joints together, joints 2-8 a little longer than broad; 

 club slender, with the terminal joint as long as the two preceding joints to- 

 gether. Antennal scrobes broad and shallow, bordered inwardly bj^ a narrow 

 carina. E\'es small, little convex, situated at anterior third of sides of head. 

 Thorax strongly arched in profile; sides of pronotum bluntl}' conical at middle. 

 Base of epinotum concave at middle, roundly margined at sides, equal in 

 length to the decli^aty. Epinotal spines as long as their distance apart at base, 

 their tips rather blunt; erect, moderately divergent and extending slightly 

 backward. Petiole elongate, the node in profile higher than long and narrowly 

 rounded above, dorsal surface evenly rounded. Postpetiole two and one half 

 times as broad as petiole; in profile, highest and rather narrowly rounded in 

 front of middle, sides produced as cones, which are nearty straight and less 

 then half as long as the width of node. 



Shining. ^landibles sparsety and very finely punctate. Front with 

 longitudinal rugae, which become finer and reticulate on vertex. Cheeks with 

 finer and more dense rugae. Vertex rugulose. Occiput very reticulately 

 rugulose and with sparse, coarse punctures. Pronotum with irregular, trans- 

 verse striae. Epinotum and anterior and posterior faces of petiolar node and 

 postpetiole shallowly punctate. Gaster finely and regularly punctate. 



Erect hairs long and silkj^, moderatelj^ abundant on head, body, and ap- 

 pendages. 



Color very dark brown; anterior portion of head, the mandibles and ap- 

 pendages brownish red. 



Worker. Length 1.50-L75 mm. 



Head a little longer than broad, as broad in front as behind, sides feebly 

 convex, posterior border nearly straight. Mandibles with seven fine teeth. 

 ChT^eus strongly convex basally, anterior border distinctly, though shallowly 

 concave at middle. Antennal scapes surpassing occipital corners bj^ a little 

 less than one third their length; funjcular joints 2-8 slightly longer than broad. 

 Promesonotum rounded in profile, the sides broadlj- and subangulately pro- 

 duced in front of middle. Base of epinotum flat, much longer than dechvity; 

 spines longer than their distance apart at base, erect and moderately divergent. 

 Petiolar node elevated and narrowly rounded above. Postpetiole one and 



