304 



CONTRIBUTION TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE 

 ARANEIDAN FAUNA OF SANTA CRUZ. 



By W. J. Rainbow, F.L S., 

 Entomologist to the Australian Museum. 



(Plates xxiv.-xxv.) 



During the latter part of 1897, Mr. John Jennings, formerly of 

 the Australian Museum, paid a short visit to the Island of Santa 

 Cruz, in the South Pacific, and whilst there made a small collec- 

 tion of Araneidje. This he handed over to me shortly before his 

 departure for Europe, with the request that I should draw up a 

 list of the forms obtained, and describe and figure any that might 

 prove to be new or of exceptional interest. The results of my 

 investigation are enumerated below, by which it will be seen 

 twenty-four species are recorded, ten of which are new to science. 

 It has been necessary also to create two new genera — Eunesiotes 

 and Gnathopalystes. With the type species of the former genus 

 I have taken the liberty of associating Mr. Jennings' name as a 

 permanent tribute to his endeavour to bring together a large and 

 systematic zoological collection of an island, the fauna of which is 

 absolutely unknown. Unhappily his effort in the direction 

 referred to was marred by an attack of island fever, a malady so 

 prevalent and distressing to new comers. 



The present contribution, although a small one, is of more than 

 passing value, seeing that it is the first systematic record of any 

 branch of zoology from this island. Only one paper dealing with 

 its conchological fauna has, so far, been published, and this from 

 the pen of my colleague, Mr. Chas. Hedley.* Otherwise nothing 

 is known of Santa Cruz, either as I'egards its Mammals, Reptiles, 

 Birds — or its Botany. Here, then, is a field, close to home. 



* "Description of a New Bivalve, Lima (data, from Santa Cruz." 

 Rec. Aust. Mus., Vol. iii. No. 4, 1S9S, p. 84. 



