poxERiy.i. 23 



Subfamily PONERIN^. 



The species of this subfamily are characterized primarily by a 

 constriction, sometimes slight, but generally distinct, and often 

 remarkably deep, bet\^een the basal two abdominal segments, and 

 by the unmodiiied, powerful and generally ezserted sting. The 

 body is more or less elongate and cylindrical, the abdomen especially 

 so, the mandibles powerful, the antennae more or less massive : 

 eyes generally present, absent in one or two genera ; legs mode- 

 rately long. Habits predaceous and carnivorous. The Fonerince 

 carry their prey or food underneath the body between the fore legs, 

 a method of carrying food &c. quite different from that adopted 

 by the Cam^wnotince and Myrmecince. The males and females of 

 the Ponerince, so far as they are known, are always winged. 



Key to the Genera. 



A. Antennal carina; not widened anteriorly, not 



covering base of antennfe. 

 a. AntennEe 11- or 12-joiuted. [p. 24. 



a'. Eyes entireh- wanting Sphinctomyemex, 



v. Eyes present. 



«-. Eyes remarkably large, lateral, placed 



below middle of head Lioponera, p. 26. 



6^. Eyes small, lateral, placed about or above 



middle of head Ceeapachys, p. 28. 



h. Antenufe 9-jointed Syscia, p. 31. 



c. Antenna; 10-jointed Oocer^a, p. 31. 



B. Antennal carina; widened anteriorly, more or 



less covering base of antennae. 



a. Pedicel not free ; a strong constriction, but no 



flexible joint between pedicel and abdomen. 

 a'. Mandibles with a distinct apical margin. . Myopopone, p. 33. 

 h'. Mandibles without any distinct apical 

 margin. 



cr. Mandibles spatulate at apex Mystricm, p. 3o. 



b'. Mandibles pointed at apex Stigmatomma, 



b. Pedicel free, with a ilexihle joint between it [p. 36. 



and the abdomen. 

 a'. Mandibles articulated close together in 



middle of front margin of head. [p. 46. 

 cr. Antennal hollows confluent posteriorly. Odontomachus, 

 h-. Antennal hollows not confluent pos- 

 teriorly Anochetus, p. 38. 



b'. Mandibles articulated, wide apart at lateral 

 angles of front margin of head, 

 fl'-. Mandibles long, curved upwards, one 



strong tooth at base of masticatory [p. 49. 



margin, thence denticulate to apex. . . . Urepanognathus, 

 b'. Mandibles diflerently formed. 

 «'. Claws pectinate. 

 a\ Mandibles arched, long, narrow, 



pointed, with no apical margin. . . . Leptogenys, p. 52. 

 b\ Mandibles often long and narrow, 

 with a distinct, if oblique apical 

 margin LonoPELXA, p. 54. 



