392 



FORMIClD.i:. 



truncate; antennal cariuie of moderate length, as broad posteriorly 

 as in front. Thorax seen from the side strongly arched, very 

 convex above ; pro-mesonotal suture very distinct, smooth and 

 shining, nieso-metanotal suture indicated ; pro- 

 notal spines short, thick at base, directed 

 di\ergently forward with a slight downward 

 bend ; metanotal spines massive, long, acute, 

 pointing obliquely back ; legs of moderate 

 length, entirely destitute of spines or erect 

 hairs. Node of pedicel biconvex, armed with 

 two long curved spines pointing backwards, 

 and shaped so as to encircle the front of 

 the abdomen, and between them in the middle 

 on the upper margin of the pedicel-node three 

 very short obtuse teeth disposed in a triangle, 

 the apex of the triangle directed forward as in P. affinis ; abdomen 

 short, globose. 

 Length, mm. 



Hab. Tenasserim, Ataran valley (Binf/ham) ; Upper Burma, the 

 Shan States {Thompson). 



Eare ; described from two specimens in my collection. 



Fig. 130. 



Foli/rkachis 



thomjisoni, ^ , 



Fig. 131. 

 Folyrhachis venus, ^ , 



462. PolyrhacMs venus, Ford, Jour. Bomb. X. II. Soc. viii (1893), 

 pp. 23 & 31, ^. 

 ^ . Brilliant dark metallic blue ; the abdomeu particularly 

 bright, polished and shining ; the head^ and thorax above very 

 minutely and finely shagreened, pub- 

 escence entirely wanting. Head very 

 broadly oval, the sides almost straight ; 

 clypeus high and broad, tectiform, its 

 anterior margin nearly transverse with a 

 medially impressed spot. Pronotal spines 

 very little more than half the length of 

 the metanotal spines, pointing forwards 

 and outwards ; metanotal spines very 

 thick at base, long, acute and oblique ; 

 legs long, robust ; the tibiae vvithouc spines or hairs. Node of 

 pedicel comparatively low, very convex in front, flatfish posteriorly, 

 bearing a thin spine at its lateral angles, pointing upwards and 

 slightly backwards ; these spines not so long as those on the meta- 

 notum ; abdomen rather massive, very convex above. 

 Length, ^ 9-10'5 mm. 



Hab. Tenasserim, the Ataran valley ; the Thaungyin valley 

 {Hodgson, Bingham). 



The abdomeu of this very beautiful species has, as Dr. Forel 

 remarks, the metallic glint of certain beetles of the genus Meloe. 

 I noticed that these ants habitually carried their conspicuous 

 shining abdomen depressed and in a way tucked up partially 

 under their thorax. This they were enabled to do owing to the 



