1851.] 



found in Southern India, 



113 



that of its congeners, from which its small size sufficiently distin- 

 guishes it. I have found it both in the Carnatic and in Malabar, 

 almost always on trees, but do not know if it has its nest in holes of 

 the wood or otherwise. 



Though scarce in individuals, it is by no means rare, and I hope 

 to be able to describe it more fully hereafter. 



Gen. Myrmica. 



Gen : Char : Antennae sufficiently exposed ; head triangular, with- 

 out spines ; maxillary, palpi long, of six joints ; jaws triangular ; 

 three cubital cells in the upper wings, the third incomplete, &c. 

 Such are the characters assigned to this genus by modern authors. 

 Whether the following species all belong to it or not I cannot de- 

 cide, but judging from their differences I imagine that they form at 

 least three groups. 



In the first group I shall place two or three nearly allied species, 

 one of which has already been described by Col. Sykes as a Myrmica, 

 so that this may be considered the typical group. Of this I have 

 what I imagine to be three species, but all very closely allied to each 

 other. 



18. Myrmica Diffusa, N. S. 



Worker rather more than l-9th inch long ; head wider than 

 thorax, oblong, triangular, striated ; antennae rather short, basal 

 joint barely longer than the head, inserted near the mouth ; eyes 

 large ; thorax notched, with two small spines on the posterior 

 angles, curving backwards ; first abdominal pedicle longish, some- 

 what heart shaped, excavated, second obovate ; both very slightly 

 raised : abdomen triangular ; head and body rufous ; abdomen 

 dark glossy brown. 



Female— head not wider than the thorax, which is not spined ; 

 length 5-12th of an inch ; wings not so long as abdomen. 



Male—head very small, eyes large ; antennae with the first joint 

 not elongated ; no spines on thorax, which is much raised ; wings 

 reach beyond abdomen — length l-7th of an inch. 



This is a well known and widely diffused species, being found 

 throughout India. It makes its nest in holes in branches of trees, 



VOL, XYII. NO i XXXIX, P 



