MANN: ANTS OF THE FIJI ISLANDS. 



471 



the rounded basal part of blades, indistinctly denticulate. Clypeus nearly 

 flat, straight at middle of anterior border. Antenual scapes slightly surpass- 

 ing occipital corners; funicular joints all longer than broad, those apicaUy 

 becoming shorter and thicker; terminal joint not so long as the two preceding 

 joints together. Eyes little convex, situated in front of sides of head at a 

 distance from base of mandibles equal to more than twice their longitudinal 

 diameter. Median ocellus distinct. Pronotum as long as broad, narrowed in 

 front, broadest behind middle, in profile feebly convex. Mesonotum longer 

 than broad, rather flat behind, basally with a pair of prominent spiracular 

 tubercles. Mesoepinotal impression deep. Base of epinotum rather flat above, 

 a little longer than the declivity and broadly rounding into it. Petiolar node 

 short and thick, posterior surface straight, anterior surface sloping, the top 

 triangular and submargined. Legs long and slender. 



Fig. 27. — Iridomyrmex nagasau Mann. Worker. Lateral view of thorax and petiole. 



Gaster shining, the remainder less strongly shining. ^landibles at basal 

 half coarselj- punctate. Head, thorax, abdomen, and appendages densely 

 but verj' fineh' punctate, and covered with fine pubescence, which is most 

 abundant on the head. Stiff, erect, and moderate^ long pilosity moderately 

 abundant on head, body, and appendages. 



Fuscopiceous, mandibles reddish; funiculus lighter; tarsi yellowish white. 

 Pubescence 3-eUowish; pilosity black. 



Taviuni: Nagasau. 



Described from numerous workers taken in the forest on the 

 MacKenzie estate. All the colonies that I found were in the bulbs of a 

 ]\Iyrmecodia growing on high trees and each of these plants that I was 

 able to examine contained ants. One bulb had been left on the ground 

 for a week, on a planter's assumption that it was an orchid, so that 

 the ants would leave, but on examination proved to still shelter 

 part of a large colony. 



The structure of the petiole, thick basally and strongly narrowed at 

 apical third, is distinctive. Type. — M. C. Z. 8,713. 



