170 HYMENOPTERA CHAP. 



ants ; the abdomen consists almost entirely of one very large seg- 

 ment, there being, however, three others visible at its extremity ; 

 these segments can be only slightly protruded, and the ants have 

 no power of stinging. They are probably most of them arboreal 

 in their habits. Nearly all of the known forms are exotic. 

 According to the observations of Bates the species of the genus 



Cryptocerus in the Amazons Valley 

 may frequently be observed in dry 

 open places on low trees and bushes, 

 or running on branches of newly felled 

 trees ; they also visit flowers abund- 

 antly. The species generally are 

 wood-borers, usually perforating the 

 dead branches of trees. C. atratus has 

 been observed to construct its nests 

 in the dead, suspended branches of 

 woody climbers ; a number of neatly 



FIG. 74. dirntocerus atratus. 3 -n j r. i n J.T i 



worker. Amazons. The com- dnlled h leS are aU that Can be seen 



pressed first joint of the hind externally ; but, inside, the wood is 



foot is shown at arid b in P , c . , 



different positions. freely perforated with intercommuni- 



cating galleries. Each community 



appears to consist of a single female and two kinds of workers ; 

 the latter in some species are quite unlike each other, differing 

 in the form of the head, and in the armature of the thorax and 

 nodes of the peduncle. The species of Cryptocerus appear to be 

 omnivorous, and are frequently attracted by the excrement of birds. 

 The pupae are not enclosed in a cocoon. In the South of Europe 

 two very minute ants, of the genera Strumigenys and Epitril '//*. 

 belonging to this family, are met with under very large stones 

 partly embedded in the earth. They are of the greatest rarity. 



Sub-fam. 4. Ponerides. - -Hind ~body elongate, furnished with one 

 node at the base, and, having also great capacity of movement 

 between the jirst and second segments, between which there is 

 usually a' si iff Jit, constriction. Sting well developed. 



This sub-family includes numerous genera and about 400 

 species. The 1'onerides have an elongate hind-body ; the second 

 segment behind the node is capable of great movement in and out 

 of the preceding segment, and for this purpose is furnished with 

 a basal portion slightly more slender than the apical part ; this 



