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o28 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID.E, 



the field. GasteracantJi-i bispinosa, Keys., is a case in point. 

 This spider in its natural haunts constructs an orbitular snare, 

 but in captivity the fabric consists of a number of lines thrown 

 seemingly at random. Two specimens kept by me at different 

 times, although provided with ample room, and placed in a suit- 

 able position for light, constructed webs of a nondescript design, 

 but upon being liberated in my garden, resorted to their customary 

 form of architecture. Again, the snare of Agelin.a lahyrinthica, 

 Walck., is very different in confinement from the one it fabricates 

 in its natural sphere. Spiders of this genus are very common in 

 the County of Cumberland. They are found in scrub lands, and 

 on a variety of soils, being common on sandy hills around Sydney, 

 and again in the, heavier loamy districts at Guildford and Fairfield. 

 The snare of Agelina is constructed under the cover of some bush 

 or shrub, close to the ground, the upright stems of weeds, grasses, 

 or other convenient projections being used for the purpose of 

 supports. The snare itself is a veritable labyrinth. From the 

 main body of the web a tunnel is constructed, running into the 

 ground in an oblique direction. In this the spider rests, until 

 apprised, by the vibration of the mesh, of the capture of some 

 unwary insect, whereupon it rushes out, and having secured its 

 prey, carries it into the silk-lined burrow, there to devour in 

 peace its unhappy victim. In captivity, the snare is not nearly 

 so complex, as I have proved by keeping specimens at various 

 times. For the purpose of observation I placed one of these 

 spiders in a box about a foot long, nine inches broad, and eighteen 

 inches deep, having previously put sufficient soil to cover the 

 bottom to the depth of four inches. At first the creature was 

 somewhat sh}^, but at length it picked up sufficient courage to 

 survey the extent and surroundings of its prison. Having satisfied 

 its curiosity, it betook itself to one of the corners of the box, and 

 remained perfectly quiet, evidently quite undesirous of being 

 watched. Noting this, I left it to itself for a while, and uj)on 

 visiting it again, found that it had stretched several lines of silk 

 the length of the box, and about midway between the soil and 

 the lid. After this a number of other lines were drawn from 



