Aids from British Guiana. 371 



to its sliari) and paiiit'iil stin<>:, the (.'llV'ct.s of which hist for 

 some tim(\ As aooii a.s the nest i.s disturbed the ants swarm 

 out with their abdomens laisetl and readily attack the 

 intruder. If tlie nests become flooded the ants ascend the 

 CJines and there construct a temporary shelter of tine earth- 

 pailicles cemented togetlier^ which form a covering. Tliis 

 s|)ecies has been also observed to atteinl the coccid I'studw 

 coccus citri, liisso, when occurring on cacao puds.'^ 



This interesting account of this cosmopolitan species shows 

 very different habits from those exhibited in hot-liouses in 

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

 houses at West Leake, Leicestersliire, in 1U08 and 1909, and 

 at Kew in I'JIO; in the former localit)' the nest apj)eared to 

 111- in the crevices of the walls, and tiie ants ran about on the 

 floor and among the j)lants. The females, which are ergatoid, 

 and only slightly 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 (formicariij Newstead) is common at JStiaton, 

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

 Lasius nijer and flavus, and is highly myrmecophilous. 

 1 found the ants always removed the coccids when the nest 

 was disturbed, often before their own larv*. 



Tribe C K Y P T c E R i N I (F. Smith) . 

 Cruptocerus 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. miniitus, 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 Coccidas : 

 Pulvinaria pyrifonnis, Ckll. ; Coccus hesperidum, L.'' 



Botanic Gardens, Georgetown, 1914. 



C. atratus, L., '^ . 



" A common species. Formicary lias been observed in a 

 large hollow in the trunk of a tree {Fachira itisi<jnis). The 

 community is large, consisting of several thousands of 

 individuals. The species has been observed to attend the 



