MANN: ANTS OF THE BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS. 371 



declivity, over which it shghtly projects. Pctiolar node in profile about as 

 long as high with declivous anterior and slightly sloping posterior surface, 

 but little narrowed above; from above about twice as long as broad, with 

 narrowly rounded and submargined sides. Gaster elongate, oval. Legs 

 rather stout. 



Moderately sliining. Mandibles rugulosely striate. Anterior portions of 

 front and cheeks with stout rugose striae. Head subtly, reticulately striate, 

 the remainder with dense, though microscopic striae, which are seriolate on 

 thorax and transverse on gaster. 



Head and gaster with a very few erect hairs. 



Pale reddish brown, with fuscous blotches on the vertex, "lateral blotches 

 on the gaster and dorsal ones on the base of the first, and the middle of the 

 second and margin of the third segments. Antennal scapes infuscated api- 

 cally; first funicular joint yellowish brown, remainder of funiculus black. 

 Femora dark reddish brown to black, except from a yellowish area on flexor 

 surface; basal tliree eighths of tibiae yellow-brown the remainder dark brown, 

 almost black. 



Worker (media). Length 4 mm. 



Head a Httle longer than broad, slightly narrowed in front, with rounded 

 corners and posterior border. Clj-peus convex, obscurely carinate at middle, 

 with nearly straight anterior border. Antennal scapes surpassing occipital 

 borders by nearly half their length. Pronotum a httle broader than long. 

 Mesonotum longer than broad, separated from epinotum by a broad saddle- 

 shaped impression. Base of epinotum flat; at apex developed as a lamellate 

 projection, deeply concave and elevated and bilobed at tip (somewhat scoop- 

 shaped), in profile projecting over the very concave decH\aty about as far 

 as the declivity is high. Petiolar scale similar to that of soldier, but more 

 strongly narrowed at sides. Gaster elongate oval. 



Less shining, than soldier, very densely and finely and seriolately striate 

 throughout. 



Erect hairs very sparse on head and gaster. 



Color as in soldier. 



Worker (minor). Length 3 mm. 



Differing from the above in its somewhat longer antennal scapes and in the 

 more extreme prolongation of the lamellate posterior border of the epinotum. 



Malaita: Auki. 



This extraordinary species is described from a small series of isolated 

 workers and a single soldier, found on leaves at different times about 

 the government residence at Auki and on the trail to Aisisiki. 



