124 HYMENOPTERA. 



terists shall spring up, the truth of my opinion will be 

 confirmed. 



Of all the genera to which the foregoing remarks would 

 apply, as affording direct proof of their truth, that of For- 

 mica has perhaps, during the last few years, furnished the 

 most ample testimony. Year after year, fine additions to the 

 British list are being made; this is extremely gratifying, 

 because a hope may be indulged that many, whose studies 

 will not admit of their entering upon the vast field of the 

 Hymenoptera, may be induced to direct a portion of their 

 attention to the Formicid<B ; if they can but once be per- 

 suaded to do so, there is no fear of any true lover of Ento- 

 mology ceasing to investigate the Ants, undoubtedly the 

 most intelligent and interesting Family in the entire range of 

 the ^yorld of Insects; nowhere do we find such endless 

 variety of form, and, whilst their economy is varied to an 

 illimitable extent, their instinctive sagacity surpasses that of 

 all other members of the class Insecta ; time, I doubt not, 

 will prove the truth of my ratiocinations. 



In 1835, the British list of the Formicidce consisted of eight 

 species of the genus Formica, seven of Mijrmica^ and one 

 of each of the genera Myrmecina^ Stenamma and Ponera; 

 such was the list at the time of the publication of the first 

 volume of *' The Entomologist's Annual;" the following is 

 a complete list of the species at present known : — 



List of the Britiah Formicidce. 



Genus Formica. 

 Formica rufa. 



„ congerens. 

 „ sanguinea. 

 ,, exsecta. 

 „ cunicularia. 

 ,, fusca. 



Genus Formica — co?j^ 



„ gagates. 



„ nigra. 



,, umbrata. 



,, aliena. 



,, flava. 



,, fuli^inosa. 



