THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



No. 23.] DECEMBER, MDCCCLXV. [Price 6d. 



Contributions to the Natural History of Australian Ants. 



By Benjamin T. Lowne, Esq., M.R.C.S. Eng, 



(Concluded from p. 280). 



13. Formica minuta, Lowne. — Worker: lengtli 1 line. 

 Shining black, except the first joint of the antennae and tarsi, 

 which are testaceous. Head very large, much broader than 

 the thorax, eniarginate behind. Mandibles rufo-ferruginous, 

 covered with scattered silky hairs. Thorax elongate, with a 

 deep strangulation between the meso- and metathorax, ob- 

 scurely punctured. Scale of" the peduncle ovate, its upper 

 margin entire. Abdomen ovate. 



I found this insect amongst dried sticks and bark, whilst 

 searching for Coleoptera. 



14. F. purptirescens, Lowne. — Worker : length 2 lines. 

 Rufo-piceous, with a purpurescent tinge, especially during 

 life ; abdomen black. Head nearly twice as broad as the 

 thorax, emarginate behind. Antennae almost testaceous. 

 Head and thorax finely rugose. Thorax elongated, with a 

 deep constriction between the meso- and metathorax. Scale 

 of the peduncle ovate and pointed above. Abdomen ovate, 

 the apical margins of the segments piceous, thinly covered 

 with pale pubescence. Tarsi testaceous. 



Female 4 lines long, piceous, with rufo-piceous antennae 

 and tarsi. Head scarcely so broad as the thorax. Thorax 

 elongate-ovate. Scutellum convex. Head and thorax thinly 

 clothed with a pale silky pile. Abdomen nearly smooth, tlie 

 apical margin of the segments rufo-piceous. Wings hyaline, 

 with piceous nervures. 



These insects make their nests in the ground or in decay- 

 ing slumps of trees. 



15. F. iiiequalis, Lowne. — Female nearly 3 lines long. 

 Head, thorax and abdomen dark brown above, with a lew 



VOL. II. Y 



