172 



NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



Mr. Henry Deane forwarded for exhibition portion of an old 

 Eucalypt stump, which was unearthed about three weeks ago in 

 George Street, opposite the new Markets, during the excavations 

 for the tramway now in course of construction. The exhibit is 

 of interest as a relic of what was no doubt the old vegetation of 

 the locality at the time of the foundation of the colony. 



Mr. Froggatt exhibited a stone from an orchard near Sydney 

 so thickly covered with the eggs of a minute red mite as to 

 resemble a lichen at first sight. Also a curious undetermined 

 fungoid growth upon grass, for which he was indebted to Mr. 

 Allan, of Wingham, Manning River. 



Mr. Rainbow contributed the following 



Note on Argyrodes antijMdiaiia, Cambr. 



This species, Argyrodes antijjodiana, a specimen of which is 

 exhibited, is found both in New South Wales and New Zealand. 

 According to Cambridge,* it very closely resembles A. arge^itata, 

 Cambr., both in general appearance, colours and markings, and 

 in respect of its abdomen, A. epeirce, Simon. All the spiders of 

 this genus are remarkable for their brilliancy, and many of them, 

 when suspended in their webs, look like atoms of burnished 

 silver, or dew-drops glistening in the sun. In habits they are 

 parasitic, and usually construct their irregular webs among the outer 

 lines of the snares of the larger orb-weavers. Their food consists 

 of the smaller insects that have become entansfled in the huse 

 orb-like webs, and which are too minute to attract the attention 

 of the legitimate tenant. The specimen obtained by me had 

 established itself at the lower edge of a web occupied by a huge 

 Nephila ventricosa, Rainbow. 



* P.Z.S. ISSO, p. 327. 



