114 HYMENOPTERA. 



It is quite possible that all the insects which frequent ants' 

 nests do not inhabit them simply as food-producers. The remark- 

 able beetles belonging to the genus Paussus (none of which are 

 British) are usually found among ants. It is not unlikely that 

 they may be kept in the nest to repel intruders by their artillery, 

 for they are all crepitating insects, discharging a highly corrosive 

 fluid with an explosion, after the manner of a BracUnus. 



There are frequently two classes of workers observed among 

 ants ; but perhaps the most curious instance is that of the honey- 

 ants (Camponotus Inflatus, Lubb., Myrmecocystus Melliger, Llave, 

 and Crematogaster Inflatus, Smith. In the two former of these 

 species the honey-sack is formed of the abdomen, and in the 

 last is an appendage to the metathorax. The best known 

 is Myrmecocystus Melliger, which is met with in Mexico and 

 Colorado, and an elaborate account of its habits has just been 

 published by Rev. Dr. M'Cook, 1 an American minister, who spends 

 his summer holidays in the investigation of the manners and 

 customs of the many interesting species of ants which are met 

 with in the west and south of the United States. Although many 

 galls have an exceedingly disagreeable flavour, there are others 

 which exude a sweet substance, and it is from these that the ants 

 obtain the honey. Among the ants there are large and small 

 workers, and Dr. M'Cook's observations lead him to infer that as 

 the former grow older they become more and more distended with 

 honey, until they become the honey-receptacles where a large supply 

 is stored up for the benefit of the community. Among other 

 interesting observations relating to their habits and economy, he 

 records that although the ants will feed on the honey, if a honey- 

 ant is accidentally crushed, yet, if a honey-ant dies, she is carefully 

 buried in the common cemetery of the nest, along with the honey- 

 bag, which is detached for convenience of transport, but never 

 opened. 



Many of the Ponerince are remarkable for their form and size, 

 as well as for their habits. The genera Odontomachus, Latr., and 

 Orectognathus, Jerd., have enormous mandibles projecting in front 

 of their heads. The latter genus is East Indian, and the species 

 which belong to it feed upon other insects ; but they do not always 

 run like other ants, but, if alarmed or disturbed (and probably also 

 in the pursuit of prey), take long leaps. 



The largest ant in the collection of the British Museum is a 

 1 T/te Honey Ants of the Garden of the Gods, Philadelphia. 1882. 



