HONEY ANTS. 49 



different genera ; and the former is a native of Mexico, 

 while the one now described comes from Adelaide in 

 Australia. The two species, therefore, cannot be de- 

 scended one from the other ; and the conclusion seems 

 inevitable that the modification has originated inde- 

 pendently in the two species. 1 



It is interesting that, although these specimens 

 apparently never leave the nest, and have little use 

 therefore for legs, mandibles, &c., the modifications 

 which they have undergone seem almost confined to the 

 abdominal portion of the digestive organs. The head 

 and thorax, antennae, jaws, legs, &c. differ but little 

 from those of ordinary ants. 



1 I have since received another species from Australia with the 

 same peculiarity. 



