100 DE. J. SHOETT OK THE MTEMICA KIEBII 



Black Curlew. Occasionally different kinds of Teal, Widgeons, 

 &c., are said to nest in the rushes that bound the inner surface 

 of the tank bund. But, although I visited this place frequently, 

 I saw no other birds than those described here. 



The Egrets, or Herodias Garzetta, Buhulcus, and intermedia, 

 were congregated in very large numbers, and roosted on the trees 

 at night; but they do not nest, which seems singular. The 

 natives had observed this, and I found it to be the case. Tet 

 I believe, of all the birds that assemble here, these occur in 

 the greatest number. Ardea alba, or Herodias alba, and S. in- 

 termedia are also found here ; and the natives say that they breed, 

 but I did not find any of their nests in the place during my 

 visits to Vaden Thaugul. 



A brief Account of the Myrmica Kirbii as found in Southern 

 India. By Johk Shoett, M.D., F.L.S. 



[Eead Nov. 3, 1864.] 



Some years ago, when in medical charge of the Ganjam trigono- 

 metrical survey, in the jungles of Orissa, my attention was drawn 

 to nests of this species of Ant, which, I believe, has been described 

 by Colonel Sykes. A trip last year to the Shervaroys gave me 

 further opportunities of examining these nests more carefully, 

 and also afforded me the opportunity of watching the habits of 

 the ants, as they are very plentiful on this plateau ; and believing 

 that any information on the subject may prove interesting, I beg 

 to submit a short account of the same to the Society. 



The nests of these ants are built on different kinds of trees 

 and shrubs. I have found them on the Syzygiicm Jantibolana, 

 Coffea Ardbica, IBsidium pomiferum, Citrus Aurantiwn, &c. The 

 largest nest I ever saw was taken from a Syzygiimi Jambolana at 

 Nagalore, Shervaroy Hills, and is now in my possession ; it weighs 

 3 lbs. 8oz., is irregularly oval in form, its extreme length is 19| 

 inches, its girth or circumference in the centre 32g inches, and it 

 is sufficiently solid to withstand moderate force. I had some 

 difficulty in securing the nest, in consequence of the ferocity of 

 its inmates ; and the tree was of some height. The nest was 

 situated about 30 feet from the ground, on a fork of the tree, and 

 was built round some of the branches, which protruded through 

 it in various directions ; the girth of the thickest or lowermost 



