A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 51 



behind is angular at the sides and bluntly so above, the lower and 

 central portion of its face slightly gibbous. Node of petiole not so 

 high as the 1st abdominal segment, rounded in front, truncate in 

 front and behind, and with a well-defined posterior dorsal margin 

 which is bisinuate in the middle and feebly angled at the 

 corners. The ventral lamella ends in a sharp tooth pointing 

 backwards, and does not extend beyond the middle of the petiole. 

 Abdomen somewhat conical and widest at the base. 1st and 

 2nd segments sub-equal in length, constriction obsolete. Legs 

 long and thin. 



$ . 11 mm. Black, 3rd and following joints of flagellum ferru- 

 ginous yellow, lighter towards the apex ; 1st joint of flagellum, base 

 and apex of scape, the last joint, and apices of all the joints of the 

 tarsi, dark rusty red. Wings fuscous, darker towards the apex, 

 nervures pale brown, stigma piceous. The whole body microscopi- 

 cally rugulose and covered with a greyish pruinose pubescence 

 similar to that of the Platythyreini. Base of head, the thorax and 

 abdomen with large but shallow, piligerous punctures, sparse on the 

 head and thorax, closer on the petiole and abdomen. The hairs are 

 longer on the prothorax, epinotum, node of petiole and abdomen, 

 shorter elsewhere, and of a fulvous colour. 



Head narrowest at the base, the portion which extends from the 

 base to a line joining the anterior margin of the eyes having the 

 shape of an inverted triangle. Mandibles broad and acute at the 

 apex; clypeus large, slightly acuminate in the middle in front, 

 rounded at the sides and gibbous at the base. Antennae filiform, 

 1st joint of flagellum very short, the rest diminishing in length to- 

 wards the apex. Frontal carinae broad and reaching to a point 

 beyond the middle of the eyes. The latter are very large and placed 

 in front of the middle of the sides of the head ; ocelli not very large. 

 Posterior margin of the head reflexed above and at the sides, forming 

 a slight collar similar to that of the $ of M. foetens. Pronotum 

 widely exposed, two-thirds as long as the mesonotum. Pro- 

 mesonotal suture distinct ; mesonotum separated from the scutellum 

 by a deep and wide sulcus ; there is also a narrow lateral groove on 

 each side reaching to a level beyond the anterior margin of the 

 tegulae. The scutellum is sub-conic and finely striated at the sides. 

 The base of the epinotum and the brow of the declivity rugose ; the 

 declivity is oblique. The tooth of the ventral lamella of the petiole 

 is thinner and more acute than in the £ . Pygidium narrow, shin- 

 ing, and ending in a short spine. Abdomen of a similar shape to 

 that of the $ , the hairs on the 3rd and following segments very long 



