149 
NOTE ON AGENUS OF GRYLLIDZ, NEW FOR SOUTH 
AUSTRALIA; AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW 
SPECIES OF MYRMECOPHILA. 
By 2. GO. Tupper, F.L.S., We. 
[Read June 2, 1896.] 
The Myrmecophilides form a tribe of the family of the Gryllide, 
or Crickets, and are divided by M. Saussure into four legions, 
with 11 genera and 40 species (Mel. Orth., vol. II., p. 455, &c.), 
to which Mons. Brunner adds the genus Lissotrachelus and six 
species, of which three are distributed among as many older 
genera, thus bringing up the totals to 12 and 46 respectively. 
These are distributed over all continents, only two species of one 
genus (Calochilus, being recorded from Australia, and one each 
of three other genera from New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Fiji 
respectively, but none endemic apparently. 
The typical genus Myrmecophila comprises four species, viz., 
M. acervorium, L., 8. Europe and N. Africa; MW. ochraceus, Fisch. 
Sicily and Asia Minor; J. dubiws, Saussure, Bitang (Malaysia’); 
and M. Americanus, Saussure, 8. America ; but none for Aus- 
tralia or its adjoining island regions. The genus is not only 
remarkable for the small size of its members, but also for the 
peculiar habit of living exclusively with and under the protection 
of particular species of ants. 
Through the zeal and assiduity of A. Zietz, Esq., F.L.S., and 
Assistant-Director of the S.A. Museum, a pair of these minute 
crickets were secured on May 17th last among ants under large 
stones ona hillside near Adelaide, and placed under my care, 
when, on examination, they turned out to be a new species of the 
above interesting genus. 
Both specimens were caught alive, although exceedingly nimble 
and active ; but the male died soon after capture from injuries 
received. The female reached me alive next morning, and I kept 
her so for three days by moistening the inside of the cork stopper 
of the small glass tube with a little saliva daily and occasionally 
renewing the air by opening the same. The little creature seemed 
to like its strange fare and scarcely quitted the cork even while 
being turned about during inspection. The following description 
was drawn up from the fresh and living specimens :— 
MYRMECOPHILA AUSTRALIS, sp. . 
Male. Pale brownish-ochreous, ovate, flattened above, very 
thinly and minutely sericeous, head (except vertex), underside, 
and legs mostly whitish. Antenne slightly longer than the body, 
