1 on [June, 



rexamen cVexcmplaires typiques », 2 et c? / g qu'a Lien voula me 

 eomniuuiquer Taviteur." 



To ascertain whether the scape reached the posterior border of the 

 head, I did not trust to measurements, but in every case I bent the scape 

 back right over the head. This can be done without any danger to tlie 

 specimen if the antenna be tirst damped with a paint-brusli dipped in 

 water or, better still, in wood-naphtha. In one specimen, taken by me 

 at Queenborough in 1912, the scape almost reaches the posterior border ; 

 but in the case of all the others, I should say it distinctly did not, and in 

 some this was very evident. I asked m^y friend Mr. Bedwell, who has 

 taken the species at Old Ford, and also at Queenborough, to examii>e his 

 series in this way. He tells me that in the former specimens the scape 

 does not reach the postei-ior border, but " the scape of the Queenborough 

 specimen however does appear to just about reach the posterior border of 

 the head." 



I have therefore come to the conclusion, from the examination of 

 the above material, that the length of the scape varies considerably in 

 this species, as does also the presence, distinctness, or absence of the 

 suture which divides the mesonotum from the pleura. The frontal 

 furrow appears, however, to be a good and constant character. 



Mons. Emery tells me that he has 2 ^ ^ from Switzerland and 

 1 ^ from Paris wdiich show the suture separating the disc of the meso- 

 notum from the pleura ; and 1 ^ from Switzerland (from the same 

 colony as the other two) and 2 ^ ^ from Africa which do not sIioav the 

 suture. The ^ ^ which show the suture are a little more robust and 

 have the thorax more developed. They are somewhat gynaecoid. The 

 scapes, however, do not reach the posterior border of the head. Roger's 

 type of the ^ of P. punctatissima is in the Museum at Berlin. Ponera 

 puiictafissima is a very interesting and rare species, of obscure habits; 

 occurring in hot-houses and buildings, but also at large in nature. A 

 full account of its life-history, as far as is known, can be found in 

 " British Ants." , 



Liferafiire. 

 Andr^, Er. " Species des Ilyiueuopteres d'Europe & d'Alg6rie." Vol. ii. Les 



Fom-mis, p. 241 (1S81). 

 Chausley, R. S. " A Mew Species of Ant found in Biitaiu." Ent. Mo. Mag 



xiv, p.'l62(1877). 

 DoNiSTHOBPE, II. St. J. K. " British Ants, Their Life-History and Classifica- 

 tion," pp. GO, 71-74 (1915). (Breudon & Son, Plymouth.) 

 DoNiSTHORPE, n. St. J. K. " Myrmecophilous Notes for 1921." Ent. Record, 



xxxiv, p. 1 (1922). 



