Ants from British Guiana. 371 



to its sliarp and painful sting, the effects of which last for 

 some time. As soon as the nest is disturbed the ants swarm 

 out witli their abdomens raised and readilj attack tiie 

 intruder. If the nests become flooded the ants ascend the 

 canes and there construct a temporary shelter of fine earth- 

 particles cemented together, whicli form a covering. This 

 species has been also observed to attend the coccid Pseudo- 

 coccus citri, Risso, when occurring on cacao pods.'"* 



Tliis interesting account of this cosmopolitan species shows 

 very different habits from tliose exhibited in hot-houses in 

 this country. I have observed the habits of this ant in hot- 

 houses at West Leake, Leicestershire, in 190b and 1909, and 

 at Kew in 1910; in the former localit)' the nest appeared to 

 be in the crevices of the walls, and the ants ran about on the 

 floor and among the plants. The females, which are ergatoid, 

 and only sligiitly larger than the workers, were running 

 about among the workers. The ants probably attended 

 coccids, though they were not observed to do so. A species 

 of Ripersia (^formicarii, Newstead) is common at Seaton, 

 Devon (1912), and at Porlock, Somerset, in the nests of 

 Lasius niger and Jlavus^ and is highly myrmecophilous. 

 1 found the ants always removed the coccids when tlie nest 

 was disturbed, often before their own larviie. 



Tribe Cryptocerini (F. Smith). 

 Cryptocerus pusillus, Klug., ^ . 



" This species is frequently found moving about on the 

 branches and twigs of smooth barked trees. It is a common 

 species." 



Georgetown, and Botanic Gardens, Georgetown, 1914. 



C. minutus, F., ^ . 



" A common species. A very sluggish ant which will 

 remain absolutely motionless on a leaf for hours together. 

 It . has been observed to attend the following Coccidaj : 

 Puhinaria pyriformisj Ckll. ; Coccus hesperidum, L.'^ 



Botanic Gardens, Georgetown, 1914. 



C. atratuSj L., ^ . 



" A common species. Formicary has been observed in a 

 large hollow in the trunk of a tree {Packira insignis). The 

 community is large, consisting of several thousands of 

 individuals. The species has been observed to attend the 



