SIE JOHN LUBBOCK ON ANTS, BEES, AND WASPS. 51 



before, they preferred to rest under the liquid which intercepted 

 the ultra-violet rays. In two or three cases only they went under 

 the other bottle ; but I ought to add that my observations were 

 made in winter, when the ants were rather sluggish. I am disposed 

 to think that in summer perhaps these exceptional cases would 

 not have occurred. 



Discovery of Ponera in Britain. — Lastly, I have to record the 

 discovery by my daughters' governess. Miss Wendland (whose 

 assistance I have already had occasion to acknowledge), of a nest 

 of Ponera contracta, the first, I believe, ever found in this country. 

 By an unfortunate accident a community of Lasius flavus ob- 

 tained access to and destroyed them before I was able to make 

 any observations on them. Their nest was under a stone ; and 

 the community consisted of about 20 individuals. 



Desceiption op a New Honet-Ant. 



Mr. Bagot has been good enough to send me from Australia 

 another species of Honey-ant, which appears to form the type of 

 a new genus, which I proposed to myself to dedicate to M. Forel 

 and to its discoverer. I am, however, unfortunately anticipated 

 in the use of JForelia as a genus, it recently having been appro- 

 priated by Dr. G. Haller for a new form of Swiss HydrachnidaB 

 (see Mitt, naturforsch. Gresell. Bern, 1882, p. 18). In the pre- 

 paration of the description, which I subjoin, M. Forel has been 

 good enough to give me his valuable assistance. 



MELOPHOsrs, gen. nov. (Plate II. figs. 1-10.) 



Operaria inflata. — Long. 18 mill. Caput rectangulare, latius 

 quam longius. Mandibulae angustse, striatae, quinquedentatae, dentibus 

 irregularibus, dente anteriore longissimo. Clypeus brevis, subcarinatus, 

 niargine antico angulato, ciliato. Fovea clypei magna. Area frontalis 

 triangularis, lata. Ocelli minuti. Oculi ad partem tertiam posteriorem 

 capitis longitudinis (antice) siti. Sulcus magnus inter pronotum et meta- 

 notum. Metathorax late constrictus. Petioli squama verticalis, modice 

 incrassata, antice convexa, postice plana, margine superiore emarginato. 

 Subtiliter coriacea, rugulosa, subnitida ; fronte inter lamiuas longitudina- 

 liter rugulosa ; abdomine nitido subtilissime transversim ruguloso. Spar- 

 sissime pilosa, capite infra setis longis barbato. Pubescentia corporis 

 sparsissima, vix uUa. Femora subadpresse breviter pilosa. Tibiae setis 

 brevibus crassis spiniformibus. Testaceo-rufescens, abdomen testaceum, 

 mandibulae rufo-castaneae, apice castaneo-nigro. 



Habitat Australiam ; lat. 21° S. 



