of Exotic Hyrnenoptera. 71 



second node black; the insect is thinly sprinkled with erect fuscous 

 hairs, most dense at the apex of the abdomen. 

 Hub. Brazil. In the Collection of the British Museum. 



Genus Eciton, Latr. 



1. Eciton vastator. 



E. rufo-fulva, laevis et nitida ; capite maximo, in medio sulcato, abbre- 

 viate ; mandibulis nigris, longitudinaliter striatis ; oculis obsoletis. 



Worker major. Length 3 lines. Rufo-fulvous; the head and abdomen 

 smooth and shining, the thorax subopake. The head very large, more 

 than twice the width of the thorax, subquadrate, rather longer than 

 broad, with an abbreviated impressed line between the antennae ; the 

 anterior margin of the head (narrowly) and the mandibles black, the 

 latter longitudinally striated, and with a single tooth in the middle of 

 their inner margin ; the head is distantly and finely punctured, with a 

 few stronger punctures at the anterior margin laterally ; the antennae 

 short, moderately stout, pubescent, and about the length of the head. 

 Thorax delicately shagreened ; the legs paler than the thorax, and 

 thinly sprinkled with short pubescence. Abdomen subglobose, pubes- 

 cent, particularly the apical segments ; the nodes of the peduncle sub- 

 quadrate, the anterior margin above rounded ; an acute spine beneath 

 the anterior node. 



Worker minor. Length lf-2|- lines. Of the same colour as the worker 

 major, excepting that the mandibles are obscure fusco-ferruginous, not 

 black ; the head narrower, more oblong, and slightly narrowed behind. 

 Hob. Ega. 



This ant I believe to be destitute of organs of vision. In the 

 place where the eyes are usually situated, I discovered, with a high 

 magnifying power, a minute pit. Mr. Bates observed that this 

 insect showed a great aversion to light, taking every means of hiding 

 from it. 



2. Eciton erratica. 



E. opaca, rufo-fulva ; capite maximo, in medio sulcato ; mandibulis rufo- 

 fuscis, longitudinaliter striatis ; oculis obsoletis. 



Worker major. Length 3J-4 lines. Rufo-fulvous, opake ; the head 

 very large, subquadrate, rather longer than broad, with a central im- 

 pressed line between the antennae running upwards nearly to the poste- 

 rior margin of the vertex ; the head is delicately shagreened, and has a 

 regular set of scattered punctures, in each of which is a pale, short, erect 

 hair ; the anterior margin of the head and the mandibles rufo-fuscous, 

 the latter with a single tooth in the middle of its interior margin, and 

 a number of erect pale hairs. Thorax finely shagreened and slightly 

 pubescent; the legs pubescent. Abdomen subglobose; the nodes of 

 the peduncle subquadrate ; the first with a short, stout, acute spine 

 beneath. 



