94 HYMENOPTERA. 



I have received from a young and most observant Hy- 

 menopterist, a list of species found in a nest of F. sanguinea, 

 at Shirley ; it is an extremely interesting record, and, I trust, 

 Mr. Rothney will continue his observations on ihis subject; 

 although I have repeatedly searched the nests of this slave- 

 making ant, I never met with some of the species contained 

 in the list. 



^^ Formica fusca, common ; F. iiigi-a and F.Jlava, several 

 specimens ; Tapinoma erratica ; Myrmica 7mginodis and 

 il/. scahrinodlsy common ; Myrmica lohicornis, the workers 

 very abundant, but only one female; Leptothorax acer- 

 vorum, all the sexes abundant in August ; L. Nylanderi^ 

 several specimens. No nest of Formica fusca or of F. 

 Jiava could be found near that of the F. sanguinea, but 

 those of F. nigra J T. erratica, Myrmica ruginodis, and 31. 

 scahrinodis, were all within the distance of a few yards.'' 

 The Leptothorax Nylanderi has never been found in any 

 other situation than in ants' nests, usually those of For- 

 tnica ri(fa. I believe Mr. Rothney to be the first who 

 lias observed Tapinoma erratica and X. Nylanderi in 

 the nest of the slave-making ant. Some of the species 

 named, it will be observed, are only occasional inhabitants 

 of the nests of other ants, others appear to be permanent 

 ones ; to the latter class belongs Myrmica muscorum 

 found by Dr. Nylander in the nest of F. riifa ; it is a very 

 minute ant, and has probably been overlooked. Such species 

 as appear to be constantly associated with other ants may 

 probably be deprived, or may be, more correctly speaking, 

 deficient of the instinct that prompts others to construct 

 their own nests, or it may be, that they find some necessary 

 aliment in the habitations of the species they are associated 

 with. Clavigery it would appear, must be entirely dependant 



