61 



Sir John Lubbock has also discovered in the front tibiae of Formica Jiava an arrange 

 ment of the tracheal tubes in a somewhat similar way, which may also serve as a hearing" 

 apparatus. A similar organ is seen in the front tibia? of Gryllus, and is thought by some 

 European naturalists of eminence to be for this purpose. 



Ants possess a stridulating apparatus on the upper surface of the fourth abdominal 

 segment, which is finely ribbed, and when rubbed, gives out a sound. We see, then, that 

 they are provided with what are presumably organs of hearing, and also with the means 

 of emitting sound, so that although Huber, Forel. and others, state that ants are quite 

 deaf, their perceptions of sound may really be far more delicate than ours, but ending 

 where ours begin. 



Their sense of smell is well developed. Their behaviour, when tested with various 

 scents, from assafcetida to lavender water, proved conclusively that this was the case. And 

 it seems to be the principal means of finding their way, more serviceable even than sight, 

 being in fact the keenest and most useful of their senses. 



Canadian Species. 



The ants of Canada have not been much studied. The following list comprises all 

 the species catalogued up to the present, but, no doubt, it could be much enlarged, as the 

 United States possesses about 200 species. Only two genera have so far been found in - 

 Canada. 



Genus Formica, (Linn.) 



Peduncle of abdomen with one knot. 



Discoidal cellule not closed. 



Biack, feet and thorax partly red herculeana. 



Entirely black Pennsylvanica. 



Brown or black, feet pale pallitarsis. 



Entirely yellow mellea. 



First discoidal cell closed. 



L'lack, feet red fusca. 



Reddish or yellowish. 



Yellow or yellowish red, abdomen black rufa. 



All brownish or reddish yellow fiava. 



Genus Myrmica, (Latreille). 



Peduncle of abdomen with two knots. 



Bright red and black incompleta. 



Pale red and black tuberum. 



Pale yellow, size small molesta. 



F. herculeana, (Linn), ligniperda, (Latr). 



This, the largest of our ants, is black, with the feet and thorax partly red. It livee 

 in decaying trees or wood, where it forms numerous galleries. An example of its 

 destructive powers is given by Mr. E. Baynes Reed, in the Annual Report for 1883, 

 page 38. Found also in Europe. F. Pennsylvania, (DeGeer). A somewhat smaller spe- 

 cies than the former, but having similar habits. F. pallitarsis, (Provancher). A very 

 small insect, only 3 3 ff of an inch long, black, with pale feet. The Abbe Provancher 

 does not mention its habits. 



F. Mellea (Provancher). -^ inch long, and of a uniform pale yellow colour. Lives 

 under stones. 



F. fusca, (Linn). A well-known species, found also in Europe. It generally makes its 

 nests under stones, in sheltered places. Very common on Montreal Mountain. 



F. rufa, (Linn). A yellowish red species, common also in 

 Europe. Fig. 23 represents the female of this species. It forms 

 its nests in the earth, covering them with the soil it carries out 

 of its galleries, mixed with bits of wood and other rubbish, so 

 as sometimes to raise considerable mounds. Figure 24 repre- 

 sents one of their nests. In Europe it is called the Wood Ant, 

 risr 23 % ^ s nes ^ De i n g generally found in woods. 



