1851.] 



found in Southern India. 



117 



reception ; some of the characters given may not be generic, but till 

 other species are discovered it is difficult to say which are, and 

 which are not of generic value. 



25. Harpegnathos Saltator, N. S. 

 Worker, head long, granulated ; jaws with a strong tooth near 

 the base pointing downwards and inwards, and thence gradually 

 tapering to the tip, and finely serrated, l-6th of an inch long ; tho- 

 rax barely grooved ; abdominal pedicle small, low, ovate ; abdo- 

 men very long ; sting large ; head and abdomen blackish brown, 

 thorax and legs rufous.— Length \ of an inch. 



I have not seen this remarkable Ant in the Carnatic. I first saw 

 it at Tellicherry, and subsequently in other parts of Malabar. It is 

 also found in the Mysore country as I learn from Mr. Hamilton, a 

 most talented and industrious Amateur Entomologist. 



I have given it the name of Saltator from its power of making 

 most surprising jumps which it does when alarmed or disturbed. 

 It is very pugnacious, and bites, and stings very severely. It makes 

 its nest under ground, generally about the roots of some plant. 

 Its society does not consist of many individuals. It appears to 

 feed on insects, which it often seizes alive. 



Gen. Ponera, Lat. 

 Its generic characters have been given above. 



26. PoNERA SCULPTA, N. S. 



Worker, length from 5-1 7th of an inch to nearly J an inch; 

 head oblong, pointed in front and rounded behind ; jaws large, 

 triangular, armed with alternately a large and a small tooth ; eyes 

 very large, nearly medial ; antennae inserted on a line just in front 

 of the eyes, rather long ; thorax nearly uniform in width and 

 height ; abdominal pedicle raised, pointing forwards, with two 

 small spines ; abdomen long, cylindric ; legs long ; the whole body 

 curiously sculptured, being- channeled and grooved in different di- 

 rections, longitudinally, circularly, obliquely, giving a peculiar dull 

 appearance ; colour blackish green. 



This is one of the commonest species of Ant in Malabar, extend- 

 ing from the level of the sea up to the top of the Neilgherries. It 



