94 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Species common, pairs in November ; web oblique or hori- 

 zontal, constructed amidst green vegetation, s]iider rests in 

 centre, beneath the web, exposing the dull-coloured ventral 

 surface. Mature examples are apparently not to be met with 

 during the winter months, but the young may bo found on fine 

 webs about grass, etc. 



Tau-oa, T. Broun. Te Karaka, Waiwera, A.T.U. 



Fam. THLAOSOMID^. 



Genus Thlaosoma, Cambr. 



Thlaosoma jjenniim, sp. nov. Plate VIII., fig. 4. 



Ceph. th., long, 2-5 ; broad, 2-3. Abd., long, 3 ; broad, 6-5. 

 Legs, 1, 2, 4, 3 = 8, 7-8, 6-5, 5-5 mm. 



Cephalothorax creamy-white, few brownish streaks and spots ; 

 sparsely clothed with whitish hairs, chiefly in lines ; sides 

 rounded sharply, laterally constricted at caput, which has the 

 characteristic upturned form of the genus ; bifurcation at con- 

 junction of caput striae and median indentation not so prominent 

 as in T. oUracea ; contour of profile rises somewhat abruptly 

 from thoracic junction, forms a prominent rounded hump sloping 

 off with slight arch to upturned apex. Height of clypeus 

 slightly exceeds facial space. 



Falces placed in usual position, four central divided by a 

 yellowish cross-like figure. 



Lega concolorous to cephalothorax, faintly clouded and 

 annulated with brown ; sparsely furnished with light hairs and 

 bristles ; 1-2 hardly differ in length or strength ; femoral joints 

 strong ; two rows of minute spinous tubercles with numerous 

 small irregular spines between on outer side ; similar but 

 smaller spines extend along genual and tibial joints, two or 

 three at base of metatarsi ; 4th pair slightly exceeds 3rd in 

 length and strength ; femora of latter pair armed with short 

 irregular row of spines, nearly absent and weak on 4th pair. 

 Superior tarsal claws — 1st pair, outer strong, long, sharply 

 bent, 2 short curved teeth at base ; inner claw less than 

 one-third size of outer, 5 comb-teeth, increasing in length 

 and strength ; inferior claw nearly equals inner in strength ; 

 auxiliary claws. 



Palpi creamy-white, brown annuli, whitish hairs ; palpal 

 claws strong, sharply bent, no teeth. 



Falces long, conical, directed slightly inwards, divergent 

 at apex, few strong teeth ; pale stoue-colour, clouded with 

 brown. 



MaxillcB directed towards each other, somewhat pointed 

 on inner side ; labium triangular, broader than long ; organs 

 chocolate-brown, light apices. 



