414 Annals of the South African Museum. 



only on the legs and antennae. Head and thorax moderately, the 

 abdomen very shining. Head finely longitudinally striate, the striae 

 almost obsolete on the occiput. Thorax and nodes feebly reticulate, 

 the pronotum also feebly striato-rugulose transversely. Epinotum 

 strongly and transversely striate. Abdomen and legs smooth. In 

 the smaller $ £ the sculpture is almost entirely effaced except on the 

 epinotum. 



Very similar to denticornis, Forel, with which it should perhaps be 

 placed as a race. It differs from that species as follows : It is smaller 

 and more robust. The thorax is shorter and the pro-mesonotum more 

 convex ; the epinotum is also more convex, rounded and without 

 teeth, not angular between the two faces. The nodes of the petiole 

 are more convex above and not so high ; the 2nd node is as long as 

 wide (slightly wider than long in denticornis in the <£> major). The 

 scape is toothed at the base, but the tooth is less acute. 



Willowmore, Cape Prov. (Dr. Brauns). (S.A.M., P.M., G.A. colls.) 



Genus PHEIDOLE, Westwood. 



Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 6, p. 87, 1841. 



Characters. 



1/ . Antennae 12 -jointed, usually very short in proportion to the 

 length of the head ; club 3-jointed, fairly distinct. Head extremely 

 large, disproportionately so compared with the rest of the body. 

 The back of the head usually deeply emarginate, so as to divide that 

 region into two lobes ; a median occipitofrontal sulcus usually well 

 defined. Cljpeus short, especially at the sides, the median portion 

 produced backwards between the frontal carinae. The frontal area 

 generally depressed. The frontal carinae short, raised at the sides 

 so as to furnish a slight depression in front to accommodate the 

 base of the scape. Mandibles broad, triangular, indistinctly dentate. 

 Pro- and mesonotum much raised above the level of the epinotum 

 and forming a hump. The pronotum is usually more or less 

 angularly produced at the sides, or even bituberculate. Mesonotum 

 frequently with a transverse impression, behind which lies a more 

 or less distinct scutellar region. This is sometimes margined above 

 by a transverse torus or hump. Behind the scutellum a fairly well- 

 defined portion of the metanotum is often present (in the majority 

 of ants not visible in the £). Epinotum armed with two spines or 

 teeth. Eirst node of petiole wedge-shaped or conical, the peduncle 

 in front very short. Second node with the sides produced into angles 



