of Exotic Hymenoptera. 73 



margin ; the antennae with the flagellum clavate, aud pointed a,t their 

 apex ; the head and antennae sprinkled with minute glittering- semi- 

 transparent pale scales. Thorax short, subovate ; the scutellum semi- 

 circular and prominent ; the metathorax abruptly oblique, deeply exca- 

 vated behind ; the legs with glittering scales. Abdomen subglobose, 

 the apex pointed ; the nodes subglobose, the first petiolated ; the second 

 segment obscure red ; the abdomen delicately aciculated longitudinally. 

 Worker. Length l£ line. The head, thorax, legs, and nodes of the 

 abdomen rufo-ferruginous, and sprinkled with minute glittering scales ; 

 mandibles elongate, produced, with three long acute teeth ; the head 

 more elongate than in the female. Thorax elongate and narrowed 

 behind ; the thorax and legs sparingly sprinkled with glittering scales. 

 Abdomen smooth, shining black. 



Hob. St. Paul (Brazil). In the Collection of the British Museum. 

 This curious species is found, Mr. Bates informs me, running 



slowly and prowling about the bark of trees. 



Subfamily Attid^:, Smith. 

 Genus Myrmicoceypta, n. g. 

 Head oblong, narrowed anteriorly ; eyes round and prominent ; antennae 

 inserted in the middle of the anterior part of the head, outside of two 

 elevated carinae ; the flagellum subclavate, increasing in thickness to the 

 middle of the apical joint, which is pointed at the apex, and twice the 

 length of the penultimate joint ; the scape about one-fourth shorter 

 than the flagellum. Thorax oblong, widest in the middle ; the anterior 

 margin transverse, with the angles slightly produced; the scutellum 

 deeply emarginate, forming a tooth on each side ; the metathorax has 

 also a tooth on each side ; the superior wings with one marginal and 

 one submarginal cell. Abdomen attached to the thorax by a petiole 

 composed of two nodes ; the first subglobose, the second cup-shaped, 

 and as wide as the base of the abdomen. 



The affinities of this very singular and minute ant are somewhat 

 difficult to assign. After a careful examination of the characteristics 

 of those genera to which, on a slight inspection, it appeared to me 

 most nearly related, I am of opinion that its situation in the family 

 is next to, or in the immediate vicinity of, the genus (Ecodoma ; it 

 agrees with the species of that genus in many important characters, 

 namely, in the form of the mandibles, in the situation and character 

 of the antennae, very closely in the venation of the wings, and in 

 the intermediate and posterior tibia? being destitute of spines at their 

 apex. I have only seen one sex — the female ; the discovery of the 

 males and workers will probably furnish other important characters, 

 which may show the exact situation that the genus ought to occupy, 

 should I not have assigned it its true one. 



