Genus 6. OECODOMA ^HNS.

Formica ^HNS, pt., Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 964 (1766).

Atta ^HNS, pt., Fair. Syst. Piez. 421 (1804).

Oecodoma ^HNS, Lair. Nouv. Dict. d'Hist. Nat. xxiii. (1818).

We are indebted to Mr. H. W. Bates for the following obser- vations on the economy of the species of this genus; but notwith- standing these various communications, as well as other recorded histories, we are still at a loss for satisfactory information, such as would enable us to unite the various sets of workers with their legitimate parents; we are acquainted with three very distinct forms of males as well as females, but have no data whereby to connect these with the working communities.