
No. 425.] THE TEXAN LEGIONARY ANTS. 375 
On overturning a large stone, beneath which a small colony of 
the ants had formed their nest, the fly in question was seen 
darting about upon the surface of the ground in the exceedingly 
nervous manner which characterizes the movement of Ecitomyia. 
It appeared much larger than any specimens of Ecitomyia, but, 
unfortunately, in capturing it the abdomen collapsed so that it 
has been impossible to determine whether the large size was due 
simply to a swollen condition of the abdomen or to something 
attached to it (possibly one of the very large eggs or a larva). 
This form is at once recognized by the marginal row of 
enormous macrochzetz on the wings, which are also broader 
than those of Ecito- 
myia. The head is 
exceedingly large and 
wide in comparison 
with the extremely 
narrow thorax, which is 
quite different from 
that of any described 
phorid, in that the dor- 
sum is so narrow that 
it allows the pleurz to 
be visible from above 
along their entire 
length. The head is 
very much flattened 
and is remarkable for 
the row of closely placed macrochztz along the anterior edge of 
the front. Tue eyes are yat" the size of those of Ecitomyia and 
have the same external structure. The mentum is large 
and more dosely. continuous with the sides of the head than is 
usually the case. The abdomen is wholly membranous, with 
the exception of a single segment (the fourth ?), which lies directly 
anterior to the abdominal gland instead of behind it as in Ecito- 
myia; a rather remarkable difference were it not known that in 


Fic. 5. — Acontistopt landeri Q sp. nov. 

some cases nearly twice as large, swollen out and filled with a liquid in which can 
be seen large developing eggs, some of which have the blastoderm completely 
formed. 
