A Monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. 493 



very finely striate longitudinally, and in part reticulate punctate, dull, 

 except a shining groove between the clypeus and the indistinct frontal 

 area. Anterior half and sides of mesonotum shining, the median 

 portion behind very finely striate and duller, with large and shallow 

 punctures all over. Scutellum and epinotum smooth and shining, 

 the latter very shallowly rugulose near the base. Petiole moderately 

 shining, the 1st node faintly reticulate- punctate. Abdomen shining, the 

 first segment with a, few large and shallow punctures. Head one-third 

 wider than long, widest in front, the sides subparallel for a short 

 distance behind the eyes, thence converging posteriorly. The eyes 

 occupy a little more than the anterior half of the head. Scapes very 

 short, hardly twice as long as wide, or about as long as the 2nd 

 joint of the flagellum ; the 1st joint of the latter subglobose, as long 

 as wide. Mandibles small, with 2 or 3 teeth. Anterior half of 

 mesonotum very convex transversely and lengthwise. Mesonotum a 

 little longer than wide, sides of scutellum vertical, very finely striate 

 longitudinally. Dorsum of epinotum very short, the declivity steep. 

 First joint of the petiole as long as wide, the anterior half of the upper 

 face excavated ; 2nd joint nearly twice as wide as long, oblong. 



S. Ehodesia, common. ; Natal (H. W. B. Marley andC. B. Cooper). 

 This is a pugnacious species, which in S. Ehodesia makes its nests in 

 hollows in trees, or in hollow branches, and more rarely in galls ; 

 elsewhere it has been recorded as making large carton nests, attached 

 to the branches of trees and shrubs. (S.A.M., E.M., G-.A. colls.) 



Var. medio-bufa, Forel. (Plate VI, figs. 77, 77a and b.) 

 Voeltzkow, Eeise Ost Afrika, vol. 2, p. 81, £ , <J, 1907. 



£ . 4 mm. Head, thorax and petiole reddish-brown, the median pos- 

 terior fourth of the head and the sides of the thorax generally darker. 

 Abdomen brownish black, antennae and legs dark brown. The 

 sculpture is similar to that of race rufonigra, but stronger and more 

 distinctly reticulate punctate (granulate). The dorsum of the epinotum 

 also has a fine longitudinal striation superimposed, absent in the race. 

 It differs from the latter in the following features : The sides of the pro- 

 notum are barely marginate, of the mesonotum not at all ; the median 

 tubercle of the latter is feebler, the declivity of the mesonotum is more 

 oblique and shorter, and the suture shallower ; the dorsum of the epi- 

 notum is narrower between the spines and more parallel-sided (in the 

 race the dorsum is more or less trapezoidal). 



2 . 8 mm. Pilosity and pubescence as in rufonigra, colour similar 

 but a shade darker, particularly the head, which is castaneous red. 



