Superfamily Avicularioidea 



or absence of the rake of the chelicerae; it being present in the 

 Brachybothriinas and absent in the Hexurinas. 



In the possession of a rake of the chelicerae the Brachyboth- 

 riinas spiders resemble the Ctenizinas or trap-door spiders; and 

 this resemblance is correlated with a striking resemblance in 

 habits. The Brachybothriinas excavate tunnels in the earth 

 and like the Ctenizinas close their tunnels with a door. But in 

 the case of the single species whose habits have been carefully 

 described this door consists of two semicircular parts which 

 meet on the middle line of the opening, like a pair of folding 

 doors. It may be that this habit is not shared by other members 

 of the subfamily; but until more is known of their habits the 

 Brachybothriinas may be designated popularly as the folding- 

 door tarantulas. 



This subfamily includes only three genera; all of which are 

 restricted to our fauna. 



TABLE OF GENERA OF THE BRACHYBOTHRIINyE 



A. With only four spinnerets. P. 249. Brachybothrium 



AA. With six spinnerets. 



B. Median furrow of the thorax longitudinal; male with- 

 out a conductor of the embolus, pedipalps, half as long 

 as first legs. P. 250. Atypoides 



BB. Median furrow of the thorax round; male with a con- 

 ductor of the embolus and with pedipalps as long as first 

 legs, P. 251. Aliatypus 



Genus BRACHYBOTHRIUM (Brach-y-both'ri-um) 



The members of this genus can be easily recognized by the 

 possession of the family characteristics given above and the fact 

 that they have only four spinnerets. 



Several forms belonging to this genus have been described 

 as distinct species; but with our present lack of knowledge of the 

 group it is impossible to state how many of these so-called species 

 are valid. Five are enumerated in Banks' Catalogue. Here 

 too probably belongs the Antrodicetus unicolor of this Catalogue. 



An account of the habits of a species belonging to this genus, 

 is published by Atkinson ('86) under the name Nidivalvata marxii. 



249 



