EXTOMOLOGY. 117 



'policeman.' ^Fany rare beetles are fuund nowhere but in ants' nests. To obtain 

 these, (lij; np the nest, and rajjidly shovel the eouteuts — earth, ants and all — into 

 a sack, whieh remove to a convenient spot; after a while the ants will soon disperse, 

 when the dehris can be sifted, and the minute Coleoptcra picked out. 



Formica sjiAiUf;i)ix.v. 



Under the head of edible ant. Dr. Mason remarks: "A species of ant is very 

 common which constructs its nest in trees, formed of leaves united together with 

 a papery substance, that the insect itself fabricates. The nests are sometimes a foot 

 in diameter, and the ants arc considered quite a delicacy with the Karens, who eat 

 them in their curries. Thoj- are said to be very sour." This is probably identical 

 with F. smarat/iiitia or a closely-allied species. The crushed-up nests are sometimes 

 seen in the bazaar, as the strongly acid Havour of these ants is relished as a condiment 

 to their rice by the Burmese. Th(;y are most irascible and annoying insects, and 

 often swarm on to the ropes of a tent, if they are secured to a tree which holds one 

 of their nests. Should this bo the case, it is best to find out another nest, cut it off, 

 and place the branch, nest, and all on the top of the tent. In a short time its 

 infuriated occupants issue forth, and proceed at once to grapple with the strangers 

 already on the tent ropes, to whom they probably attribute their sudden change of 

 quarters. The contest rages with dreadful fury, and is ([uite Homeric in its incidents. 

 In all directions ants may be seen grapploii with by their enemies, whilst several 

 of their friends are at the same time holding on fast to them by legs or antennas, to 

 prevent their being carried otf into captivity, whilst all around a pungent odour of 

 formic acid rises fi'om the belligerent host. Xo fiercer strife over r:iged on the plains 

 of Troy, and the noble simile of the eleventh Book is at once recalled. 



" As in .some rich man's domain 

 The reapers drawn in rows, 

 llight down the furrows shear the grain 

 And still their labour grows. 



And thick the arnifuls fall as rain ; ' 



So Trojan and Achaian might 

 Each on the other leapt. 

 Kone turned from fight to cursed flight, 

 But even battle kept." — Iliad, XI. G7 (Gladstone's Trans.). 



The colour of the workers and males is rufous; but the queen is described as 

 being of a pale-green colour, whence the specific name of the species. 



FOEMICA OBLOXGA. 



,, TINCTA. 



PoLTEHACniS AFFINIS. 



,, ABDOM^'ALIS. 



,, TIBIAilS. 



,, SrUTATDS. 



,, liEVISSIMUS. 



,, FURCATUS. 



,, BICOLOE. 



PONEEA EETICULATA. 



,, PALLIDA. 



Atta BF.LLICOSA. 

 PUEIDOLE OCELLIFEEA. 



Famihj Dorylidse. 

 The Boryliche diffcu- from ants in the first si'gment only of the abdomen forming 

 the pedicle. The sexes of several species are still unknown. One species is a heavy 

 wasp-like insect, which often enters houses at night attracted by the lights. Their 

 life history requires to be studied. 



DOEI'LUS LONGICOENIS, Schuck. 



