34 



MR. F. SMITH ON SOME NEAV SPECIES OF ANTS 



species would have been found to form a new genus, intermediate between 

 Formica and Myrmica. Future observation and research will probably 

 supply the materials for deciding this interesting question. 



Gen. Tapinoma, Foerst. 



Tapinoma erratica. T. nigro-fusca, nitida, glabra; pedum articulis 



tarsisque pallidis; squama oblonga depressa. 

 Formica erratica, Latr. Hist. Nat. Fourm. p. 182. — Tapinoma erratica, 



Smith, Brit. Fourm. p. 111. 1. 

 The collection contained a single example of this species. Its coming 

 from so distant a locality created a doubt of the possibility of its being 

 identical with the species found in this country and throughout Europe ; 

 but after the most attentive examination having been given to it, I acknow- 

 ledge my inability to detect the slightest difference between them. 



Fam. MYEMICIDtE. 



Gen. Myrmica, Latr. 



Myrmica jucunda. M. fusco-nigra, nitida; mandibulis antennis 

 pedibusque articulis et tarsis rufo-pallescentibus. 



Worker. Length 14 line. Brownish black, very smooth and shining ; 

 the mandibles, anterior portion of the head, the antennae, tarsi, and 

 articulation of the legs pale testaceous ; the eyes small and placed 

 midway at the sides of the head. Thorax narrowed posteriorly, with 

 the division between the meso- and metathorax strongly impressed ; 

 the metathorax with two very minute spines ; the first node of the 

 abdomen, when viewed sideways, is wedge-shaped, the second globose. 

 Abdomen subovate, widest towards the apex. 



Myrmica gracillima. M. rufo- pallida, lawis, nitida ; abdomine nitido 

 nigro. 



Worker. Length 1 J line. Pale rufous, smooth and shining ; the head 

 oblong, rather wider than the abdomen ; the mandibles stout ami 

 armed with four black acute teeth on their inner margin ; the eyes 

 small, ovate, and placed in the middle at the sides of the head ; club 

 of the antenna; .'3-jointed; the antenna; as long as the head and 

 thorax. Thorax compressed, the division between the meso- and 

 metathorax strongly impressed ; the metathorax unarmed. Abdomen 

 orate, black, smooth and shining; the nodes of the peduncle pale 

 rufous, the first elevated above the second; when viewed sideways,, 

 wedgeshaped, with the apex blunt, the second globose. 



There is a certain similarity in the habit of this small ant that induces 

 me to think it quite possible that it may be only a very diminutive form of 

 the worker of Alia barbara. 



.Mvkmica jmmca. M. rufo-pallida; capite longitudinaliter delica- 



tule striatoj metathorace pairo, acuto, dentiformi. 



