found in Southern India. 107 



40. Formica rufoglauca, Jerdon (p. 124). 



Worker, /:jtlis of an inch long; head long, oblong; eyes 

 large, posterior; jaws strongly toothed; thorax not grooved; 

 abdominal pedicle raised, conic, wide above ; abdomen tine silky 

 glaucous green ; head, thorax and legs bright rufous. 



Warrior, g^ths of an inch long ; head large ; eyes much 

 smaller; antennae shorter; abdominal pedicle flattened poste- 

 riorly ; abdomen short and triangular ; colour similar. 



I have found this ant only in the Carnatic, in small societies, 

 living in holes in the ground. 



It is possible that this may turn out to be Fabricius's species 

 cinerascens. 



41. Formica vagans, Jerdon (p. 124). 



Worker, /^jths of an inch long ; eyes large, medial ; antennae 

 long ; abdominal pedicle raised, rounded ; legs very long. ^ 



Female, -^^i^^^ of an inch long ; the thorax shorter and wider, 

 and abdomen very large ; wings reaching beyond the abdomen. 



This little ant is exceedingly common in the Carnatic, but I 

 have not seen it on the Malabar coast. It takes up its quarters 

 in any sheltered spot in a house, under a box, a stone, a hole in 

 the wall, or such like places, and when disturbed flits with great 

 speed to another suitable spot. Its society is very numerous in 

 individuals, and there are many females and males, sometimes 

 with, at other times without wings. It feeds both on vegetable 

 and animal substances, preferring the former like all the true 

 Formica. 



42. Formica assimilis, Jerdon (p. 125). 



Worker, exceedingly similar to the last. 



Length 2':jths of an inch ; differs in its colour, chiefly being 

 of a shining reddish black, in its eyes being apparently large, the 

 thorax narrower, and in being covered all over with scattered 

 white hairs. 



I have found it frequenting flowers in Malabar, but not 

 abundant. 



43. Formica phyllophila, Jerdon (p. 125). 



Worker, length /^ths of an inch ; eyes small ; anterior jaws 

 triangular ; thorax slightly furrowed posteriorly ; abdominal pe- 

 dicle thin, low, linear ; abdomen large, triangular ; legs and an- 

 tennae rather short ; colour shining brown-black. 



This little species forms a temporary nest usually between two 

 leaves, or sometimes in a head of flowers. It lives in small 

 societies, and feeds entirely on vegetable secretions. 



