]]2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



much shorter, while the disk is glabrous ; this Rhododendron 

 is closely allied to R. Lochae, from which it is mainly separated 

 (unless also by its as yet unknown fruits) by shorter petioles, leaves 

 blunt at the base, shorter and proportionately broader br.icts, 

 only slightly dotted and somewhat smaller corolla, the lobes of 

 the latter particularly being of less size ; from R. Malayanum it 

 is chiefly distinguished by leaves blunt at both ends wdth more 

 prominent and closer venules, somewhat larger flowers on 

 longer pedicels with a more lobed calyx. 



CORRESPONDENTS WANTED. 

 Ants. — Mr. Kearsey Milford, Rockhampton, Queensland, would 



be glad to correspond with Victorian collectors of ants, and 



exchange specimens. 

 DiPTERA. — Mr. F. A. A. Skase, the Linnean Hall, Elizabeth Bay, 



Sydney, is working up the Diptera (tw^o-winged flies) of 



Australia, and would be glad of assistance with specimens, 



especially of the Neniocera. 



On I'hursday, the 6th ult., I observed some ants acting in a 

 strange manner — doubling up and tumbling over, as if intoxicated. 

 Upon examination, I found that two of a smaller species (about one- 

 third of their size) had fastened by means of their mandibles on 

 the legs of one, others were attacked by three, and even more, of 

 their small enemies, but in no case was there more than one on 

 any one leg. I found, also, one of the large ones alive, minus 

 its legs and abdomen, which had the appearance of being cut 

 off, presumably by the aggressors. The repeated attacks to 

 which the larger ones were subject seemed to render them helpless^ 

 and though the smaller ones seemed in the first instance to prove 

 themselves superior to the others, they did not escape scatheless, 

 for I found numbers of them, which had attached themselves to 

 the others, apparently lifeless. Evidently the larger ones had 

 drawn this attack upon themselves by crossing the path of their 

 small antagonists at this point, and these immediately adopted 

 this method of driving the intruders from their path. — E. H 

 Hennell, South Yarra. 



