118 



A Catalogue of the Species of Ants 



[No. 39, 



lives in the ground in small societies, often making its nest in a 

 flower pot, occasionally under a large stone. It does not work in 

 concert, being generally seen solitary. It lives on animal sub- 

 stances, but apparently will also take vegetable matter. I have 

 seen two fighting for a ripe seed of the Lantana. 



I have not met with the female of this species. 



27. Ponera Stenocheilos, N. S. 

 Worker, length 3-8th of an inch ; head large square behind, 

 pointed and advancing anteriorly, widest in front of the eyes which 

 are large ; antennae long; jaws very long, linear, ending in a strong 

 tooth externally and a smaller one at the internal angle ; thorax 

 narrow ; abdominal pedicle raised, rounded, pointing backwards ; 

 abdomen very long ; sting large ; legs long ; colour dingy greenish 

 brown. 



I have found this Ant very rarely in Malabar, and know nothing 

 of its habits. 



28. Ponera Processionalis, N. S. 



Worker, length 1 -3rd of an inch ; head oblong, advanced ante- 

 riorly : eyes medial, large ; antennee moderately long, thickened at 

 the end ; jaws triangular, strongly four toothed ; thorax wide, not 

 grooved ; abdominal pedicle of equal width with the thorax, square 

 truncated ; colour shining black. 



I have met this species over most of India. It lives in the 

 ground in very numerous societies, is most frequent in jungly district, 

 occasionally a vast column of them, 3 or 4 deep, may be seen cross- 

 ing a road, and I have traced the column for 40 and 50 yards. It 

 stings very severely. 



29. Ponera Affinis, N. S. 

 Worker, length l-3rd of an inch; head oblong, notched behind, 

 advanced anteriorly ; jaws triangular, strongly toothed; antennae 

 thickened at the tip ; eyes somewhat anterior, moderately large ; 

 thorax slightly grooved ; abdominal pedicle pointed, thin ; abdomen 

 oval colour dingy black. 



I have only procured this Ant once in Malabar and know no- 

 thing of its habits. 



