

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 179 



hole, say about a foot, and deposits them in a small conical heap. 

 This seems to be a protective measure, for other ants always 

 have their rubbish heaps and middens immediately near the 

 entrance and naturally anyone in search of the ants would look 

 near the heap of debris. I was at first deceived in this way, 

 until I noticed their dodge in a clear piece of ground. These 

 ants also cultivate a fungus and if it is not Roaites gongylophora 

 it is very much like it. As in the two preceding species their 

 " kohlrabbi " clumps consist of an aggregate of hyphre with large 

 spherical swellings on their ends. Any roots of plants going 

 through the ants chamber are not cut away, but are made use of 

 to suspend their mushroom garden to which are in their case 

 regular hanging gardens. Unlike the other species mentioned 

 there is only one class of worker in these nests, measuring between 

 •1 and i\ mm., and of a brownish colour with a hairy pubescence. 

 The} 7 are no^turn il in their habits and when disturbed s'.iam death. 

 I have often found them on lawns in gardens and they seem to 

 be rather common about St. Ann's. They are not so dis- 

 tructive as the preceeding species, and seem to like small 

 fallen flowers and the fruit of various kinds of plants to be found 

 in gardens, but at the same time the}' do not despise rose plants 

 especially the young and tender shoots. They are not at all 

 energetic and are very slow in their movements. 



Genus : Sericomyrmex, Mayr. 



S. opacus, Mayr. 



The nests of this species are constructed in clayey soil with 

 raised entrances, consising of a narrow cylinder composed of the 

 particles of earth resulting from their mining operations and used 

 up portions of the mushroom garden. Internally the nest con- 

 sists of a sort of antechamber in which I have often found 

 flowers, leaves &c, brought in for use. Small entrances leading 

 into the excavated cell open on this antechamber. They are 

 about two to three cubic inches in size and like the preceding 

 species they readily make use of any roots growing through their 

 chambers to hang their gardens on, which is exactly like the 

 T. urichii with the same kind of " kohlrabbi." The larvae are 

 white and when viewed under the microscope are sparsely 

 covered with long tapering hairs. There is only one kind of 

 worker, never exceeding 4 mm. in length. Unlike T. urichii 

 they work during the day and it seems to me more so than 

 dining the night, judging from observation of an artificial nest. 

 They also sham death when disturbed, l"it on the whole are 

 more active. They are quite harmless and like fallen fruit better 

 than anything else, small flowers are also readily used for their 

 mushroom trarclens. 



