534 



DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID^E, 



zontal; those of the latter are festoons fabricated in corners or 

 angles of buildings, and among the small branches of shrubs, or 

 binder the overhanging ledges of rocks, and consist of irregular 

 lines extending from every conceivable point and angle, crossing 

 and interlacing each other. Amongst our endemic Upeiridce 

 thei-e are some species that construct composite webs — that is to 

 say, in addition to an orb-like snare, there is a network of irregular 

 or retitelarian lines, such, for example, as those described by me in 

 connection with the web of Epeira tvagneri, Rainb., in a former 

 paper.* Whilst taking a ramble at Guildford last spring, I was 

 so fortunate as to discover an exceedingly interesting web of the 

 composite type, but very different to the one just referred to. 

 This was the snare of U. crassipes (ante, p. 515). The' orb-like 

 mesh of this spider is always suspended horizontally, and the 

 radii and concentric rings are exceedingly fine and closely woven. 

 This portion is about 9 inches in circumference. The centre of 

 the orb is looped up, giving it a somewhat tent-like appearance. 

 Above the orb a cone-shaped nest or retreat is suspended, mouth 

 downwards, and from the interior of this there are lines connect- 

 ing it with the main body of the structure. The accompanying 

 figure is a diagram of the upper portion of the web in profile. 



A represents the orb which is 

 looped up at Al; B the nest or 

 retreat; C the lines looping up 

 the orb; and D the centre lines 

 stretched from the lower portion 

 of the nest to the edges of the 

 orb. The nest is skilfully made. 

 It is composed of colourless 

 silk, among the threads of which 

 Fig. 1. dead leaves of Leptospermum 



or ti-tree are woven, thus affording not only an admirable shelter 

 from the weather, but also a protection from the raids of predatory 



_..J? 



A. I 



* P.L.S.N.S.W. 1S96, Vol. xxi. pp. 335, 336; E. sylvkola, described in 

 this paper, ante, p. 518, constructs a web and nest exactly like E. 

 vmgneri. 



