106 Mr. T. C. Jerdon on neiv species of Ants 



narrowed anteriorly ; jaws rough, triangular, strongly toothed ; 

 eyes large, posterior; prothorax wide, nietathorax narrowed ; 

 post-thorax in the form of a rounded narrow platform, ending 

 in two points, and truncated ; abdominal pedicle blunt, rounded, 

 raised ; abdomen short, oval ; antennae rufous ; head and thorax 

 dull greenish black, shagreened; abdomen shining glaucous 

 green ; legs shining black. 



I have found this ant on flowers in Malabar, but have never 

 seen its nest ; it is not a very common species. 



38. Formica cinerascens, Fabr. (p. 123). 



Worker, length f ths of an inch ; head large ; eyes rather 

 small, posterior ; jaws strongly toothed ; thorax wide in front, 

 narrowed behind with two glands on each side above ; abdominal 

 pedicle elevated, conic ; abdomen oval ; colour dull black, except 

 the abdomen, which is glaucous green, and somewhat pubescent. 

 Female ^ an inch long nearly ; head smaller ; thorax not so wide ; 

 abdomen long, oval ; wings not reaching to the end of the ab- 

 domen. 



Male, fg-ths of an inch long ; similar in form to the female, 

 but with much narrower abdomen, and head still smaller pro- 

 portionally. Warrior, y^^ ^^^ °^ ^^ \nc\\ long ; head large ; an- 

 tennse short ; eyes minute. 



This species lives in the ground in small societies. I have 

 only seen it in the Carnatic. It is described as having the head 

 fulvous, and a triangular spot on the abdomen ; but as it is said 

 by Fabricius to have been sent from Tranquebar, in the vicinity 

 of which I have seen our present species, 1 think they are pro- 

 bably identical, and that the difference of colour is accidental, 

 especially as there are only two species common in the Carnatic 

 with glaucous abdomen, this and our F. rufoglauca. 



39. Formica velox, Jerdon (p. 124). 



Worker, length g^ths of an inch to /^ths ; head long, ob- 

 long; eyes posterior, large; jaws strongly toothed; antennae 

 long; thorax smooth ; abdominal pedicle raised, somewhat 

 rounded, wide above ; abdomen with the divisions of the seg- 

 ments strongly marked; legs long; colour dull blackish, with 

 the abdomen greenish pubescent. 



This ant is very common in Malabar, and I think is also found 

 in the Carnatic. It frequents flowers, especially delighting in 

 those that have great quantities of pollen, such as the Cucurhi- 

 tacece, Hibisci, &c. It runs very speedily, and is very easily 

 alarmed, dropping to the ground on being touched. I have not 

 succeeded in Hading its nest. 



