OUR ANTS. 37 



29. r. argentca (Mayr). 



Kanara E. H. Aitken (6/90 $ ?). 



Barrackpore, Bengal G. A. J. Rotliney. 



I have only received this species from Kanara, where it seems to 

 be common ; the habitat of the ' type ' is given as Manilla. From 

 Mr. Aitken's description, it is apparently very like P. Icevior in its 

 habits, and makes its nest in the same way. 



30. P. sj)iniffera (Mayr). 



Poena Districts (10/90^ $). 



Rangoon, Burma Major Bingham (a variety). 



Thaaa Districts F. Gleadow. 



Siwaliks, N.-W. P H. M. Phipson. 



Calcutta, Bengal G. A. J. Rothney (type). 



Mussoori,N.-W. P G. A. J. Rothney ( 5 ? c? May,1872). 



Trincomalee Major Yerbury. 



This species is very common in the Dekhan, indeed^ in places, 

 scarcely a stone can be turned over without exposing an existing, 

 or deserted, nest ; this is formed in a cavity in the soil (under a 

 stone, or close alongside of it), which is lined with material resem- 

 bling silk forming a bag with only one opening. The texture of this 

 silk is fairly strong, and, with a little care, I have succeeded in 

 digging up the bag intact. Dr. Forel suggested to me the possibi- 

 lity that this nest was not the work of PolyracJiis, but the deserted 

 dwelling of a Mygale, or some allied spider. I have, however, satis- 

 fied myself that this is not so. Early in June, 1890, I found in my 

 garden, under a stone, a community of sinnigcra, who, apparently, 

 had lately migrated, for the subterranean cavity was lined, not as usual 

 with a web, but with a silvery varnish only. A week later, however, 

 I found that this varnish had become the normal, pale brown, silky 

 material. Moreover, in raising the stone, at my second vist, 1 tore 

 the material which had apparently been made to adhere to the stone. 

 I made several inspections at intervals of a week, and on each occa- 

 sion I tore the material of the nest, to search for ? and S specimens, 

 and, on each following visit, I found the rent repaired; so that 

 this material is clearly the handiwork of spiiiigera. Spinigera can, 

 however, and does, under changed conditions, change her style 



