The Scottish Naturalist 261 



Myrmedonia canaliculata and humeralis. — These are generally 

 near, but not in the nest, especially ca?ialiculata. 



Thiasophila angu/ata, Dinar da Mderkeli, Homalota flavipes, 

 talpa and anceps, Oxypoda hcemorrhoa and formiceticola, Quedius 

 brevis and Leptacinus formicetorum are all inhabitants of the hill 

 and connected in some mysterious way with the ants. The 

 ants would have no difficulty in demolishing some of these, but 

 for reasons as yet unexplained not only refrain from doing so, 

 but are said to treat their guests with great hospitality and 

 kindness. Quedius brevis (first taken in Scotland in I869, by 

 Mr Hislop and subsequently found by Dr Sharp and myself) 

 and Dinar da Mderkeli (found by Mr Hislop) have not, I think, 

 been recorded as Scottish. 



Ptilium myrmecophilum. — This little creature sometimes 

 abounds in the nests. 



Monotonia conicicollis is found deep down in the hill. This 

 is a very slowly moving animal, and greatly resembles a very 

 small piece of wood. 



Dmdrophilus pygmaus and M yr metes piceus. — These are found 

 near the bottom of the nest, and are like round black seeds. The 

 former is not uncommon, but of the latter I have only seen a 

 single individual, which, I believe, is the only known Scottish 

 example. 



Cetonia floricola is the largest beetle that inhabits the Scottish 

 ant-hills and is perhaps the handsomest. The larva lives in the 

 nest, where it is said to feed on the " ant eggs," but more 

 probably, in my opinion, on the substance of the hill. The 

 perfect insect is sometimes found in the nest, but more often at 

 the old " sugar " placed on trees as a bait for moths by col- 

 lectors of Lepidoptera, and sometimes at the fermenting sap of 

 trees, such as that which exudes from the burrows of the goat- 

 moth caterpillar. 



Clythra ^-punctata. — This, from its habits, is one of the 

 most interesting species found in the ant hill. It generally in- 

 habits an old and partly forsaken nest, though I have seen it in 

 a thickly populated hill. The perfect insect may be often found 

 outside the nest upon trees or flowers, but sometimes in the 

 nest. It is, however, the habits of the larva that give to this 

 beetle its interest. The larva is soft and fat, so to protect it- 

 self from the jaws of the ants it constructs for itself a movable 



