Vol. Xxii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 



between the outer end of patch and tornus are two flatly triangular 

 indian red spots ; from the outward one arises a curved transverse line 

 of six gray dots, paralleling the termen. Above the patch, and con- 

 necting it to the costa, at inner sixth, is a broad fascia of light brown, 

 containing a dark brown streak at its lower edge and inner side of the 

 upper half. 



The costa is washed with pale yellow, and there are small shades of 

 this color and gray, between costa and dorsal patch, the most prominent 

 is a yellowish gray spot at end of cell, near costa, below it a smaller 

 and fainter spot, and beyond the latter is a curved mark of light gray. 

 Between the row of sub-terminal dots and termen is a curved shade of 

 yellowish gray. 



Hindwing white, inwardly shading into ochreous-white. 



$ differs from male in the dorsal patch, which is heavily overlaid 

 with blackish brown, especially on the outer half. The shades of ochre- 

 ous, red and lavender are also entirely absent. 



Described from seven $ 's and five $ 's from Dr. R. von 

 Ihering, Sao Paulo, Brazil (No. 10-631). 



This species belongs to the schlaegeri group, with narrow 

 forewing. In the $ there is a distinct narrow dorsal fold or 

 roll, and in this sex the scales of the basal patch are long and 

 specialized. 



A pair in Dr. Edward Meyrick's collection, and I gratefully 

 acknowledge his kindness in comparing this and preceding spe- 

 cies with British Museum collections. 



COURTSHIP IN TARANTULAS. The instincts of the male tarantula 

 change suddenly at the period of maturity. From a creature with 

 domestic habits he develops into a vagabond. Disregarding personal 

 danger he constructs a sperm-web into which he throws out his sperm 

 and pumps it then into both of his palpi. In the search for the female 

 he is entirely dependent upon his sense of touch, his sense of sight 

 being entirely inadequate for the purpose. The courtship is therefore 

 very short and consists in beating the female with his front legs. The 

 danger of being hit by the fangs of the excited female is prevented by 

 catching them with the hooks on the front legs. The coitus lasts not 

 longer than one half minute, after which the spiders cautiously separ- 

 ate. A few weeks later the males die apparently a natural death, 

 ALEXANDER PETRUNKEVITCH. 



