THE CANADIAN ENTOxMOLOGIST 13 



This species is very unique, and I do not know of any described 

 species that it at all resembles. It should follow M. pulchra. 



Mordellistena gigas, sp. nov. 



Hind tibia with four very oblique ridges; first joint of hind 

 tarsus with five, second with two, and third with one oblique ridge. 



Subcuneate; head, thorax, mouth-parts, base of antennae, and 

 legs rufous. Elytra black, finely punctured, with reddish brown 

 iridescent pubescence; basal margin, a short oblique humeral vitta, 

 narrow lateral margin and entire suture with golden yellow pubes- 

 cence. Beneath testaceous; mesosternum, hind coxal plates, and 

 the basal margins of first and second segments of abdomen fuscous; 

 anal style fuscous at apex. Length 6 m.m. 



One specimen from Edgebrook, Illinois, July 10. 



This is one of the largest species of Mordellistena I have seen. 

 It is likewise a very handsome species, and may readily be recog- 

 nized by its distinct colour and number of ridges. It should follow 

 M. fusco-atra. 



RECENT STUDIES OF CANADIAN SPIDERS. 



BY J. H. EMERTON, BOSTON, MASS. 



For many years past I have worked on the spiders of New 

 England, and as these have become better known and the collec- 

 tions more complete, have from time to time wandered over into 

 adjoining territory. In the summer of 1916 I made a visit to the 

 neighbouring part of Canada, with the object of seeing where and 

 how far the familiar species extended in that direction. All authori- 

 ties agreed that it was best to start early, so the cold and rainy 

 weather of the middle of June found me at Ottawa, in company 

 with Mr. W. T. M, Forbes, the lepidopterist, consulting with the 

 resident entomologists where it was best to go and how to get there. 

 The Ottawa Field Club had an outing the next day, and in that 

 helpful company I began operations at the Experimental Farm, 

 the umbrella, which had become a constant companion, serving to 

 catch the spiders shaken from hedges and the specimen trees of the 

 Arboretum. As the weather improved, Mr. Gibson took us to the 

 old lumber camp in Chelsea and up King's Mountain, and later I 



January, 1917 



