OF NORTHUMBEKLAND AND DURHAM. 143 



Whitley, Sunderland, and a little to the west of Gilsland. Mr. 

 W. Peacock, of Sunderland, directed my attention to a colony 

 in his garden, which were travelling up a tree for the sake of 

 the Aphides. 



4. F. nigra, Linn. The G-arden Ant. Linn., Faun. Suec, 



1723; Smith, Monog., 13, 8. 



This, the most abundant Ant in the South of England, is with 

 us not nearly so common as F. fusca. Whilst it would be diffi- 

 cult to find a place where the latter does not occur, F. nigra 

 is mostly restricted to the sandy flats near streams, where it 

 nests beneath stones. I have, however, occasionally found it 

 in hedge-rows, and once found a large colony in a decaying 

 stump, but never at any great distance from the water. A 

 beetle, Myrvieclonia limhata, is often found in attendance upon 

 this and the following species. 



5. F. flava, De Geer. The Turf Ant. De G-eer, Ins., II., 



1089, 5 ; Smith, Monog., 15, 10. 



Very abundant everywhere. In sandy places, near streams, 

 and in meadows, it is found in hillocks ; but in hilly localities, 

 and in many places near the sea coast, it nests under stones. 



Family 2. PONERID^, Smith. 

 Genus 1. PONERA, Latr. 



1. P. contracta, Latr, Latr., Nat. Hist. Fourm., 195; Smith, 

 Monog, 19, 1. 



Exceedingly rare, the v^^orker only having occurred on the 

 sand-hills near South Shields, in May. 



Family 3. MYRMICID^, Smith. 

 Genus 1. MYRMICA, Latr. 



1. M. ruginodus, Nyl. Nyl., Adno. Mon. Form. Bor. Eur., 

 929, 2; Smith, Monog., 20, 1. 



This is a very abundant species, and found nearly everywhere. 



