Family Formicidæ.

Pheidole sexspinosa, Mayr Twelve specimens, all workers.

Dr. Gustav. Mayr described the ? and worker of this species in a paper entitled "Neue Formiciden,"^*and recorded it "Auf den Ellice-Inseln in grossen Ocean, vom Museum Godeffroy," To his description he appended a note which may be of interest to students, and of which the following is a translation:—

"The genus founded by Mr. Smith, and for which he proposed the name Pheidoxlacanthinus, would appear to suit the above species, but there is a difference in the structure of the antennas. The one named by Mr. Smith has eleven joints, while the antennæ of Pheidole sexspinosa has twelve joints."

In Mr. Hedley's memoranda I read the following:—" Several ants occurred in the area of sandy soil near the cultivation grounds, one with a metallic colour could inflict an unpleasant bite upon bare feet." Mr. Woodford says of the Gilbert Islands:—"Three or four species of small ants were common on all the islands, and the firewood taken on board at several places swarmed with them."^†