185^.] 



found in Southern India. 



109 



be suspended, or otherwise protected, the whole of the seeds sown 

 will be removed in one night. I have also had many packets of 

 seeds (especially lettuce) in my room completely emptied before I 

 was aware that the Ants had discovered them, I do not know, how- 

 ever, if they eat them or feed their larvae on them, though for what 

 other p urpose they carry them off I could not divine. I have often 

 observed them bring the seeds outside their holes, as recorded by 

 Col. Sykes, and this I think generally at the close of the rainy 

 season, but in some cases I had reason to believe that it was mere- 

 ly the husks, of which I have seen quite heaps, and that the Ants 

 did not take them back to their nests. If any of the forementioned 

 seeds be sown out at once in a bed, most likely in the morning you 

 will find the surface of the whole spot covered over with little 

 ridges, the works of these creatures, and the few seeds that per- 

 haps remain, dug all round, and being carried off, sometimes above 

 ground, at other times under ground. Thtir galleries and sub- 

 terranean passages are often very extensive, and it is no easy matter 

 to dig down to their nest to see what becomes of the seeds. I have 

 not procured the male or female of this species. 



9. Ocodoma Diffusa, N. S. 



Worker about |th of an inch long ; head somewhat oval, nearly 

 smooth, with a few scattered graundes, slightly emarginate behind; 

 eyes moderate size ; thorax deeply grooved, with two small opines pos- 

 teriorly : first abdominal pedicle very pointed, conic ; second round- 

 ed of equal height : head, thorax and legs rufous ; abdomen brown. 



Warrior ^th inch long, jaw strongly toothed, head large, much 

 striated, deeply notched behind ; thorax more deeply grooved and 

 tubercled ; otherwise as in the Worker. This species appears to be 

 spread over most of India, and has similar habits to the last. 



10. OCODOMA DlVERSA, N. S. 



Worker about 7-48th of an inch long, head oblong, nearly 

 smooth, emarginate behind ; eyes small ; jaws triangular, toothed ; 

 thorax but slightly grooved and with two longish spines posterior- 

 ly ; first abdominal pedicle broadly conic, second rounded ; head 

 thorax and legs dark mfcrroon, abdomen blackish. 



