. Natural history. Zoology. ANTS AND SAND WASPS. 579 and those which are sufBciently fortunate to return to a nest of their own species, become the future mothers of the community, and devote all their energies to egg-laying. The wings of ants are rather long and large, and the two principal nervures generally cross obliquely about the middle of the fore- wings, and beyond this, a large, closed cell is formed in some genera. Ants are divided into three principal families. The Formicidce bite, but do not sting, and have only one node on the petiole of the abdomen. In the Poneridce, the node is
. Natural history. Zoology. ANTS AND SAND WASPS. 579 and those which are sufBciently fortunate to return to a nest of their own species, become the future mothers of the community, and devote all their energies to egg-laying. The wings of ants are rather long and large, and the two principal nervures generally cross obliquely about the middle of the fore- wings, and beyond this, a large, closed cell is formed in some genera. Ants are divided into three principal families. The Formicidce bite, but do not sting, and have only one node on the petiole of the abdomen. In the Poneridce, the node is formed by the first segment of the abdomen, which is frequently nearly as large Ss the others, but is completely detached from them ; and in the Myrmicidce there are two small nodes forming the petiole of the abdomen. Both these last families sting as well as bite. The most familiar examples of the first and last families are the wood ant, Formica r«/a(Linn.), a large, smooth, reddish ant, which forms large mound-nests in woods ; the much smaller red ants of the genus Myrmica (Latr.), which infest our gardens ; and the minute yellow house- ant, which is so troublesome and difficult to get rid / \ of wherever it effects a lodgment. Our British V^i«jd/ representatives of the Ponerifte, or "wicked ones," "- are small and insignificant ; but to this family be- long some of the largest known ants, such as the great black Dinoponera grandis (Guer.) of Brazil, which measures upwards of an inch in length. In some of the larger species of Myrmicidu', belonging to the generaOdontomac/ins(Latr.),ilfi/)-mecia(Fabr.), etc., the jaws are very long, and armed with formidable teeth. We have figured a large red Pig. (Myrmeda and black Australian ant, Myrmecia forficata furficaia). Nat. size. (Fabr.). We have no space hero to discuss the habits of ants, but those of our readers who are interested in their wars, slave-raids, agriculture, cattle and pets, will find ample in
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