XX. Descriptions of New Species of Cryptoceride. By 
Freperick Smiru, V.P., and late Pres. Ent. Soc. 
[Read 18th March, 1867.} 
THE present communication contains descriptions of four 
new species of the genus Cryptocerus, with references to 
seven others recently described by Dr. Mayr, and one by 
Dr. Roger; these, added to those previously enumerated, 
merease the number of the species of that genus, at 
present known, to forty-five. 
Of the genus Meranoplus, three new species are de- 
scribed, increasing the number of that genus to sixteen 
species; whilst the genus Cataulacus is increased to ten 
species by the new one now added. 
The new species of Meranoplus are from Champion Bay, 
Western Australia, only two having been previously de- 
scribed from that country; there can be little doubt that 
when the ants of that continent are carefully collected, 
many additional species will be discovered. 
The forms of the species of the Cryptoceride are so varied 
and eccentric, that it is absolutely necessary to figure each 
species as well as to describe it; and in those cases in 
which the three forms are known, I am convinced of the 
necessity of figuring each sex, the differences between the 
male, female, and worker being so great, that direct ob- 
servation of the insects in their formicarium can alone, in 
the majority of cases, enable naturalists to unite them. 
Mr. Bates has in this respect added more to our knowledge 
of this group than any previous traveller. In the Trans- 
actions of this Society will be found no less than fifty-two 
figures illustrative of the species of the Cryptoceride. 
Fam. FORMICIDA. 
Sub-fam. CRYPTOCERIDAH. 
Gen. CRYPTOCERUS. 
1. Cryptocerus conspersus, n. sp. (Pl. XXVI. fig. 1.) 
C. ater, thorace petioloque spinosis, tibiis femorumque 
apicibus rufo-testaceis, abdomine marginibus fer- 
rugineo, 
Worker. Length, 14 lnme. Black, and sprinkled with 
short bright silvery sete; head wider than the thorax, 
the sides, before the eyes, broadly pale testaceous; the eyes 
prominent; the scape and basal joints of the flagellum 
TR, ENT. SOC. THIRD SERIES, VOL. V. PART VII.—DEC, 1867. 
