ACULEATE nYMENOPTERA AND ICHNEUMONIDiE. 293 



are constantly wandering over one's body and giving unexpected 

 punishment in tender places. 



The species of Podomyrma are forest insects, and were found 

 chiefly in dry and elevated districts. They run rapidly on 

 branches of trees ; but nothing more is known of their habits. 



The genus Pseudomyrma consists of long and slender short- 

 legged ants, found crawling on foliage and timber, and generally 

 solitary or in small numbers. 



The genus Crematogaster consists of small-sized ants, which 

 are sometimes very abundant, and sting severely. The C. in- 

 flates has a remarkable swollen thorax of an ochre-yellow colour. 

 It was found running rapidly about dead branches. Another 

 species, C. irritabilis, was found in New Guinea, abounding in 

 the forests, where it makes large nests of black crusty cells in 

 the trunks and branches of lofty trees. Soon after I had built my 

 house at Dorey this species took possession of it, building large 

 nests in the roof, and making covered ways down the posts and 

 across the floor. They also filled up the grooves of my setting- 

 boards w T ith their cells, and stored them with spiders. For three 

 months I was subject to the constant attacks of these little 

 pests, which coursed about over my table, in my bed, and all 

 over my body. This was all very well, and could have been 

 borne without any complaint ; but every now and then, meeting 

 with some obstruction in their path, they would give a sting so 

 severe as to produce a spasmodic start, and necessitate an in- 

 stant search after the enemy, who was generally to be found 

 holding on tight by his jaws, and thrusting in his sting with all 

 the vigour he was possessed of. 



The Myrniicarice are active ants, resembling at first sight the 

 smaller species of Polyrhacliis. They were found generally on 

 foliage. M. rugosa was observed in Batchian running on fallen 

 timber, carrying the abdomen turned in under the thorax. 



The genus Pheidole comprises those remarkable ants which 

 possess workers of several forms, and often differing greatly in 

 size and structure. Some of them live under rotten bark, others 

 in the ground ; and they all seem to be very active and voracious, 

 and to have a very severe sting. In the island of Batchian I 

 found five species of Pheidole, which were more abundant there 

 than in any other locality. In P. rubra, found abundantly under 

 rotten bark, the two sorts of workers do not differ much in form, 

 but the larger ones are at least ten times the bulk of the smaller. 



