FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB. 181 



not only undpr rotten wood but also under large stones in 

 suitable dark cavities. They also have a covering to their 

 garden like A. urichii, though I have not found it in such perfec- 

 tion as with that species, but they have the same kind of fungus 

 and their '• kohlrabbi" seems to be of a finer quality, the hyphce 

 are swollen into a club shape like A. urichii, but they are aggre- 

 gated into regular groups, which are plainly visible. It would 

 thus appear that mayri is more advanced than urichii in the 

 cultivation of the fungus. Like the preceding species it takes the 

 excrementa of wood-boring insects to construct its garden with, 

 but is also fond of fruits and even parts of flowers. They would 

 not take crssava farine when I oH'ered it to them. They are 

 of nocturnal habits, and when disturbed sham death for many 

 seconds. 



Genus : Cyphomyrmex, Mayr. 



C. rimosus, Spinola. 



This is a common little brown ant found under the bark of 

 trees and in damp spots about walls. It does not cultivate any 

 fungus, but two species of the same genus found in Brazil are 

 mushroom growers and eaters, as Moller has undoubtedly provec 1 . 



Economic Notes. 



Of the eight species mentioned above, the last five may be 

 considered harmless, at least the Apterostigma and Cyphomyrmex 

 species are quite so and a Trachymyrmex are a pest in a very 

 slight degree, but as the nests they make are not large they can 

 very easily be disposed of. Of the remaining species Atta 

 cephalotes is very destructive in the country and A. octosjnnosa 

 destructive in gardens in town. C<')>lialotes is always engaging 

 the attention of cultivators and a few years ago an ordinance 

 was drafted to help the planters against their tiny foes, by 

 giving them power to enter their neighbours' lands, to destroy 

 nests, if the owners or occupiers would not do so themselves. 

 Cephalotes do not seem to have any natural enemies through 

 whose agency they could be considerably diminished, and this 

 is not to be wondered at as they maintain a complete military 

 department and a huge standing army of veritable giants who, 

 like all soldiers, are remarkable for their prowess in the feeding 

 and fighting lines. Unlike the armies of European powers they 

 are composed, as is the army of Dahomey, of ferocious females. 

 Their courage and daring are indomitable, for they rush on the 

 foe without a moment's hesitation in huge swarms and grasping 

 any portion of him they can lay hold of never let go until their 

 mandibles have met. If they can then release themselves they 

 immediately make another bite and this they continue to do 

 until their bodies have been torn from their terrible heads. 



