MEXICAN FORMICID^. 889 



generally somewhat darker, the clypeus, mandibles, an- 

 tennae and legs somewhat paler. 

 Many specimens. Tepic. 



38.. Pheidole obtusospinosa n. sp. 



Soldier: Length, 6.5 mm. This species resembles 

 very much the soldiers of Ph. vasliiii, though it is much 

 larger, the scape is shorter, and only about one -half the 

 length of the head, which is also more densely and more 

 sharply reticulate - striate ; the pro- and metanotum more 

 distinctly transversely reticulate -striate; the metanotum, 

 besides being granulated, is also finely and transversely 

 striated between the spines and on the declivity; the 

 spines are much stouter, obtuse at tip and more or less 

 distinctly curved inwards; the second node is much 

 broader, transversely oval and with numerous, rather 

 deep, longitudinal striae; the sculpturing of the abdomen 

 is very similar but much coarser, and the hairs on every 

 part of the body denser. 



Color ferruginous, the abdomen varying from light 

 brown to nearly black. Anterior margin of head black. 

 Mandibles brownish-red. 



Many specimens. Tepic. 



PHEIDOLE Westwood, subg. CERATOPHEIDOLE, 



n. subg. 



This remarkable species, of which but two specimens 

 were obtained, agrees in almost all of its characters with 

 those of soldiers of the typical Pheidole, from which it 

 principally differs in the unusually long and slender an- 

 tenna, the scape of zuhich reaches to the occiput, whereas 

 the club of the flagellum, instead of being three -jointed 

 as in Pheidole proper, is composed of four long and sub- 

 equal joints. The number of joints in the palpi could 

 not be ascertained. The discovery of the sexes and 

 workers, if such exist, may exhibit additional characters, 



