HYMENOPTERA. 99 



55. PONERA TORTUOLOSA. 



Worker. Length 3 lines. Black : the mandibles, antennae and 

 legs ferruginous. Head subquadrate, striated, the striae running 

 obliquely from the centre on each side , beneath, the striatiori 

 runs in a transverse curve ; eyes rather prominent. Thorax stri- 

 ated, the striae running gradually obliquely inwards in front, and 

 crossing in a transverse curve over the metathorax. The node of 

 the peduncle incrassate, its anterior margin rounded, and the first 

 two segments of the abdomen striated, the striation very regular 

 and beautiful, describing two-thirds of a circle ; the two basal seg- 

 ments longitudinally striated. 



Hab. Brazil. (Coll. F. Smith.) 



56. PONERA SULCATA. B.M 



Worker. Length 3 lines. Reddish-yellow, with the head 

 black, the antennae and mandibles pale testaceous-yellow, and 

 semitransparent ; the head and thorax longitudinally furrowed or 

 striated, the node of the peduncle and the second segment of the 

 abdomen are similarly striated ; the first segment with the striae 

 curving inwards and uniting at the apex of the segment. The 

 insect has a general semitransparent appearance, and in certain 

 lights the furrows have a bright golden effulgence. 



Hab. Brazil (Ega). (Coll. H. W. Bates.) 



57- PONERA ALIENA. 



Worker. Length H line. Scarcely differing from the P oner a 

 contracta of Europe ; the antennae are however rather shorter, 

 and the apical joint longer; the legs are shorter and thicker; but 

 the most distinctive difference is the thickness of the scale, or 

 node of the petiole, which in the present species is much thicker, 

 particularly at its upper margin ; in other respects they scarcely 

 differ : the eyes are wanting, as in P. contracta : the palpi have 

 not been examined. 



Hab. Brazil. (Coll.W. Swainson.) 



This species doubtless resembles very closely the Ponera rufi- 

 cornis of Spinola, but he describes his insect as black, with red 

 antennee : our species is entirely of a brownish-yellow, and appears 

 to be distinct. 



58. PONERA RUFICORNIS. 



Ponera ruficornis, Spin. Mem. Accad. Torino, xiii. 69. 51 (1853). 



Hab. Brazil (Para). 



F2 



