296 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
Mexican species of Ants sent by F. Sumichrast, The species referred to are 
the following: — Formica esuriens, F. fulvacea (large worker figured pi. 1. 
fig. 1), F. nitida^ F. nacerda, Tapinoma piceata, T. tomentosa (worker pi. 1. 
fig. 2), Polyrhachis arhoricola (worker pi. 1. fig. 3), Poneva striyata, P. pe- 
dunculata, Eclatomma ferruyinea (worker pi. 1. fig. 4), Eciton hamata^ E. 
mcxicana (workers pi. 1. ligs. 6 & 0), E. hrunnea, E. sumichrasti (small worker 
pi. 1. fig. 7); Pachy candy la orhahana^ Psetidomyy'ma bicolor (worker pi. 1. 
fig. 8), P. Jlaoidula, with figure of Mimosa-spines inhabited by this species j 
and P. bicolor, P. thoracica, Atta clypeata, (Ecodoma mcxicana (female pi. 1. 
fig. 9, worker fig. 10), Cryptocerus laminatus, and C. midtispinosus (worker 
pi. 1. fig. 11). 
Eciton. Sumichrast publishes (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. ii. pp. 39-44) some 
notes on the habits of the Mexican species of this genus. The workers only 
are known ; but Sumichrast is inclined to think that Smith is right in sup- 
posing that the genus Labidus is founded upon males oi Eciton. The species 
referred to by Sumichrast are identified as follows by Norton (/. c. pp. 44-46): — 
E. hamata (Fab.), E. mcxicana (Gu4r.), E. rapax (Smith) (Nort.), 
E. (n'assicoimis (Smith), E. sumichrasti (Nort.), and two new species. 
Von Hagens’s notes on Ants with mixed colonies (see ‘ Record,’ 1867, 
p. 303) are published in Verhandl. naturg. Ver. preuss. Rheinl. und Westph. 
1867, CoiT.-Bl. pp. 49-54. 
D’Esteiino publishes (Rev. ot Mag. Zool. 1868, pp. 435-439) some obser- 
vations on ants living in mixed colonies. He denies that the relations of the 
black to the red ants are those of slaves to their masters, explains away 
Huber’s statement that fhe red ants require to be fed by the black ones, and 
declares that the plundering expeditious of the former are undertaken for the 
purpose of bringing in larvae, not to maintain their stock of slaves, but to fur- 
nish food for the colony. He has observed pregnant females of the black 
species in the red colonies, and has seen them maltreated by tlie black workers 
when apparently attempting to escape from the nest. The red ants fed 
freely upon pieces of meat given to them. 
Sanborn publishes some notes on the use of the antennae as a means of 
communication by ants. Proc. Essex Inst. v. Meetings, pp. 13-14. 
New genera and species : — 
Brachymyrmex, g. n., Mayr, Ann. Soc. Nat. Modena, iii. p. 163. Allied to 
Camponotus : $ with minute ocelli, distinctly impressed frontal area, and 9- 
jointed antennae j joints of funiculus gradually increasing, apical joint very 
large, thickened, and fusiform: d with 10-jointed antennae. Sp. B.patayo- 
nicus, Mayr, 1. c, p. 164, Buenos Ayres. 
Dorymyrmex, g. n., Mayr, l.c. p. 165. Allied to llypocUnea: ocelli 
distinct j antennae 12-jointed, scape long and slender, funiculus filiform, joint 
1 longest, the rest gradually decreasing to penultimate, which is shortest j 
lower part of head with a circle of long hairs. Sp. D. planidens, Mayr, /. c. 
p. 165, and D. tener, Mayr, 1. c. p. 166, South Brazil. 
Poyonoimjrmcx, g. n., Mayr, 1. c. p. 169. Allied to Atta : $ ^ , antennae 
12-joiuted, scarcely clavate, joints 3-11 subequal j ocelli 0 j frontal area with 
an obtuse angle behind : S', antennae 13-joiuted, scape short, joint 1 of funi- 
culus very short, 2 very long, rest gradually shorter. Sp. Mynnica yayi 
(Spin.), M. barbata (Smith), Atta crtidelis (Smith), and probably Formica 
