INTRODUCTION. XXVil 
more elongated, and composed in the fe- 
_ males and workers of five rings. 
The ants of the second family have 
the antennze moniliform, and consider- 
ably enlarged at their exttemity ; a sting; 
the abdomen short, and composed of four 
rings in females and the workers. 
The males have, in general, the an- 
tennz longer, and of thirteen joints; the 
abdomen is composeb of one ring more 
than in other individuals of their species ; 
they possess neither a sting nor a venom- 
bag. As we shall treat in this work of 
none but indigenous ants, all of 
which find place in this general division, 
I shall not enter into greater detail rela- 
tive to their classification. 
Let us examine separately all the parts 
of the body of ants in order to know 
their external organs. ‘Their head is 
triangular, oblong, and terminates in a 
point more or less obtuse; it is thick at 
the top, thin at the opposite extremity, 
and terminated by two large teeth, termed 
mandibles; underneath is the mouth, 
properly so called. On each side are 
a 2 
