152 NOTES ON QUEENSLAND ANTS, 
“T have lately discovered a colony of agricultural ants near 
Georgetown. The species is very small and red. My attention 
was first directed to these tiny harvesters by noticing heaps of 
chaff and hulls in a bare spot, situated in a grove of young 
acacia trees. The formicaries are entirely subterranean, 
being entered by a funnel-shaped tube. Roads diverge 
from this gate in four or five directions, and during 
working hours are alive with what appears like white 
insects, the little ants being covered by their load. Some of 
these ants seem to clean the grain, and carry out the husks, 
which forma heap round the opening to the nests. The clear 
space round each opening is small, certainly not more than 
eighteen inches in circumference, and a small mound round not 
more than six inches in height, is formed with the earth 
excavated in forniing the nest. The only species of grain 
harvested is the seed of Perotis rara, which is light when quite 
ripe. I cannot give the generic name of these little fellows, 
never having devoted any special study to the family, but shall 
be happy to furnish specimens in spirits to any naturalist who 
will forward his address.’’* 
Still more recently another of our members, Mr. Ling Roth, 
has written concerning an ant, which Mr. W. F. Kirby refers 
to as Meranolopus dimidiatus (Smith). ‘‘ These harvesting ants 
are found at Mackay, Queensland. They climb up grasses, and 
carry away the seeds to their nests. The ground near their 
nests is generally strewn all over with the husks they have 
brought to the surface.’’+ 
During last autumn the writer observed on Spring Hill, 
Brisbane, small ants continually passing to and fro from their 
*Nature, Oct. 17, 1878, Vol. XIX., p.648. Since the date of this letter Mr. 
Armit has left the scene of the operations referred to, and so specimens of 
the harvesting ants, which there is reason to think will prove different 
to those subsequently mentioned, have not yet been at the disposal of 
the writer for examination. 
+ Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. XVIII. p. 328. Lond., 1885, 
