HYMENOPTERA. — FORMICID. 935 
M. Lund concludes his exceedingly interesting memoir by describ- : 
ing a singular genus, which he considers should be placed at the end 
of this family, and of which he had detected five or six species, 
neuters only having been observed with the antenne elbowed, and with 
the abdominal peduncle formed into two nodes; but differmg from all 
the known ants in the eyes, which occupy nearly the-whole of the 
head. They are solitary, creeping upon the trunks and leaves of trees ; 
they sting sharply. Latreille ne ie for them the generic name of 
Pseudomyrmex. 
This family of insects constitutes an exceedingly natural and iso- 
lated group amongst the Hymenoptera, &c., of which the natural 
affinities are very difficult to determine. Latreille, as above stated, 
considered them as nearest allied to Mutilla; and if we regard the 
structural peculiarities alone of the apterous individuals of these two | 
groups, we certainly find many characters in common. Compare, for 
instance, Methoca 9 with Formica 9 ; the latter, in its want of wings, 
ocelli, and sting (three of the great characters of the order), being a 
far less perfect animal than the former. But when we examine the 
true nature of the ants, and especially the characters of the females, 
together with their social economy, we must award to the ants a rela- 
tion with the more typical Hymenoptera, as the bees and wasps. ~ It 
is true that, comparatively speaking, they do not exhibit so elaborate 
a species of economy as is shown by the type of those groups; but 
their habits are quite as elaborate, for instance, as those of Bombus. 
In placing them between the true Fossores and the solitary Fossorial 
wasps, I am aware that I am apparently violating nature, and such is 
the opinion of St. Fargeau; but until the difficult question as to the 
precise importance to be given to the habitudes morales of these insects 
over their general structure is determined, I have preferred adopting 
the arrangement of Latreille’s most valuable work. As to the relations 
of the ants with the beetles and Tenthredinide amongst the Tricho- 
ptera, as suggested by Mr. MacLeay (Hore Ent. p.370.), I cannot 
conceive them to be entitled to any weight ; indeed, that author has 
himself shown his opinion of the former relation, by stating, in a sub- 
sequent page, that Stylops (which he thinks nearest allied to the 
Chalcididz) is the link between the Coleoptera and Hymenoptera; 
and as to the latter, suggested with the view of proving that the true 
Hymenoptera are allied to the Trichoptera (amongst which he places 
the Tenthredinidz), and founded on the supposed similarity of their 
