106 



A Catalogue of the Species of Ants [No. 39, 



very slightly notched, abdominal pedicles narrow, first much rais- 

 ed, second slightly so, abdomen ovate, legs longish, head thorax 

 and legs deep red brown, abdomen blackish. This species of Ant 

 does not seem to be common. I have only hitherto procured it at 

 Nellore in a hole in a house, and I only saw one kind of indivi- 

 dual. 



4. Atta Rufa, N. S. 



Worker l-8th to l-6th of an inch long, head short, oblong, eyes 

 rather small, medial, antennae rather short, with the two last joints 

 much enlarged ; jaws linear oblong, strongly toothed ; thorax 

 slightly grooved, first abdominal pedicle lengthened, narrow in 

 point, wide behind and much raised, second broader, not so high — 

 of an uniform glossy rufous colour, with the end of the abdomen 

 somewhat darker. 



Warrior variable, about jth inch long, head large, very square, 

 slightly notched behind, smooth; eyes advanced, lateral ; jaws ob- 

 long, quite entire, Hunt ; antennae short, otherwise as in the ordi- 

 nary Worker. Female about 7-24th of an inch long, head small, 

 diamond shaped, eyes very large, 3 large ocelli on the top of the 

 head, antennae not geniculate, short ; all the joints nearly equal ; 

 thorax thick in front, depressed behind, abdomen long ; oval wings 

 reach beyond abdomen. 



This Ant is the only one of the true Atta that has two kinds of 

 neuter individuals, and in its form and general habits it approaches 

 much to the next genus, Ocodoma ; but as it wants the spines on 

 the thorax I have referred it to Atta. It is very common in Mala- 

 bar, but is also found in the Carnatic : it is found in holes under 

 ground, about gravel walks, mud walls, and often appears in 

 houses, coming through a hole or crevice in the floor, or wall. 

 There is a colony of them in my bathing room, and every now and 

 then vast numbers of the winged females (and males) issue forth just 

 before sunset attended as far as the window by swarms of the 

 neuters of both kinds. Its favorite food is dead insects and other 

 matter, but it also carries off seeds like the Ocodoma, as I know 

 to my cost, chaff, &c. &c. It stings very severely, leaving a burn- 

 ing pain that lasts for several minutes. 



