200 HYMENOPTEKA. 



not been discovered. Should, however, the opinion of Dr. Savage 

 prove to be correct, we may reasonably expect that Labidus may 

 prove to be the male of Eciton. I think it is more probably its 

 parasite. 



Genus MYRMECOCYSTUS. 



Myrmecocystus, IVesm. Bull. Acad. Roy. de Brux. v. (1838) 

 p. 766. 



Lucas, Bull. Ent. pi. 54 ; Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (1855). 



'* The first abdominal segment of one node ; the mandibles 

 triangular and much toothed ; abdomen swollen at times like Su 

 balloon, and then perfectly transparent. In Mexico called hor- 

 inigas mieleras or mochileras, i. e. honey-ants or pouched ants, 

 their abdomen containing a sufficiently agreeable honey." 



Myrmecocystus Mexicanus. 



Myrmecocystus mexicanus, Wesm. Bull. Acad. Brux. (1838) 

 p. 770. pi. fig. 5 . 



Hab. Mexico. 



Only workers of this singular species of Ant are described; they 

 ai-e of two very distinct forms ; the jjlate which illustrates the 

 paper exhibits the small worker of the ordinary form, but the 

 larger worker is represented with its abdomen swollen into an 

 immense globular rece])tacle ; this is effected by the distension of 

 the membrane which connects the segments. The account for- 

 warded to M. Wesmael by M. de Normann, the discoverer of the 

 species, is, that the latter individuals are inactive, do not quit the 

 nest, and that their sole occupation is to elaborate a kind of 

 honey, which they discharge into receptacles. 



The Crematog aster injlatus of this Catalogue, page 136, is a 

 species which probably has workers that perform a similar ope- 

 i-ation, but in this case it is rendered even more remarkable from 

 the receptacle or laboratoiy being a swollen bladder-like forma- 

 tion on the metathorax of the insect : this singular apparatus is 

 furnished with a small circular orifice at the posterior lateral 

 angles, from which the saccharine fluid doubtless exudes; por- 

 tions of crystallized particles are visible within the orifices, and 

 frequently are also scattered over the whole surface of the in- 

 flation ; we maj' therefore reasonably conclude, that this insect 

 elaborates a suitable and necessary aliment for the nourishment 

 of the young brood. 



Page 36. — Formica sericata belongs to the genus Polyrhachis; 

 specimens in the British Museum have been received recently 

 from the island of Aroo (Moluccas). 



