NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN ANTS. 
At first sight this appears to be a variety of M. ( P .) picta Sm., 
which it resembles in size and colour. It is, however, readily 
distinguished from it by the form of the mandibles, antennae 
and nodes. 
The mandibles of fucosa and of nigrocinda are somewhat 
similar, but the difference in the antennal scapes prevent the 
two species from being placed together. 
The nest and habits are similar to those of M. (P.) pida. 
Genus MYRMECIA Fabr. 1804. 
Myrmecia esuriens Fabr. 
(PI. I, figs. 7. 8.) 
Syst. Piez., p. 424, 1804, § . 
Myrmecia tasmanicnsis Smith, Cat. Hym. Brit. Mus. vi, 147, 1858, § , 
Myrmecia xvalkeri Forel, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., 37, p. 456, 1893, §. 
Myrmecia esuriens Fabr. Emery, Gen. Ins. Fasc. 118, p. 21, 1911, 5. 
Worker. — Length, 14-18 mm. 
Black. Mandibles, labrurn, antennae, legs, coxae, postpetiole and apical 
segments of gaster ferruginous. 
Head longitudinally rugose. Pronotum arched rugose, the rugae irregular, 
sometimes almost longitudinal in the centre. Mesonotum and epinotum 
transversely rugose. Node coarsely and irregularly rugose. Postpetiole and 
gaster fine and densely punctate. 
Hair yellow, erect, short and abundant on head, thorax and nodes, longer 
on gaster ; very short, suberect and scattered on legs, not apparent on antennae. 
Pubescence very fine, adpressed, moderately abundant throughout, much 
longer and very abundant on gaster where it forms a distinct yellowish covering. 
Head as long as broad, occipital border straight, sides convex, the angles 
rounded. Mandibles slightly shorter than head, external border concave in 
middle ; inner border strongly reduced from fourth large tooth to base. 
Scapes extending beyond occipital border by the length of first segment of 
funiculus ; second segment one-fourth longer than first, third shorter than 
first. Thorax two and one-half times longer than broad. Node one-third 
broader than long, broader behind than in front : in profile higher in front 
than behind, the anterior face vertical, dorsum and posterior face united in a 
curve, the stalk in front very short. Postpetiole one and one-half times 
broader than long. First segment of gaster broader than long. Legs short 
and robust. 
Female . — Length, 22-24 mm. (Ergatoid). 
Similar to the worker but larger and the sculpture coarser. Postpetiole 
darker, more brownish. Head square, as broad in front as behind. Scapes 
extending beyond occipital border by their thickness. The thorax bears a 
very small scutellum, but has no traces of wing insertions. Node transversely 
oval, one and one-half times broader than long. Postpetiole one-fourth 
broader than long. Legs robust. 
[1G] 
