BY W. j'. RAINBOW. 549 



present undescribed, and for which a new genus will be necessary), 

 an undoubted Thomisid — a species of Misumenince. 



This interesting spider constructs a bag-like nest which it 

 attaches to branches or twigs, and which is held securely in 

 position by silken threads. The entrance to the nest is at the 

 top. The food of the tenant consists entirely of ants — Lepto- 

 myrniex erythrocephalas, Fabr. These are dragged into the nest, 

 the vital fluids sucked from their bodies, after which the remains 

 are thrown out, and other victims secured. The single nest, 

 figured onPlate xviii. (fig. 8a) is eighteen millimeters deep by twelve 

 wide. Within and from near the middle to the bottom it is very 

 closely woven and beautifully lined with fine white silk; the silk 

 composing the outer part of the structure is of a dirty yellowish 

 colour, coarse and openly woven. This specimen, together with 

 the architect, was obtained by Mr. Froggatt at Aelalong in 1891. 

 At the time I was busy with this portion of my paper, Mr. George 

 Masters, Curator of the Macleay Museum, Sydney, most oppor- 

 tunely drew my attention to a cluster of nests upon a small branch 

 (PI. XVIII., fig. 6), together with the architects, collected by him 

 at Glen Oak, Williams River. The spiders proved to be of the 

 same species as those collected by Mr. Froggatt at Aelalong. 

 Altogether there were nine nests, showing that while some of 

 these spiders, as evidenced by Mr. Froggatt's collection, lead an 

 isolated life, at other times they are to be met with in colonies. 

 The form and texture of the nests in the cluster (Mr. Mastei's' 

 .specimen) is exactly like the one taken by Mr. Froggatt; but it 

 will, of course, be understood that each nest is tenanted only by 

 one spider. Mr. Masters, to whom I am indebted for the privi- 

 lege of figuring the specimen collected by him, tells me that the 

 nests are covered with these ants, and that it was their great 

 numbers on the trees that attracted his attention. From the 

 observations of these gentlemen it would appear that this species 

 is decidedly local, but very common where it occurs. So far I 

 have not seen the cocoon made by this interesting Arachnid. 



The Australian species of the genus Misumena, Latr., exhibit 



no departure from the typical nidification of the Thomisidce. 

 36 



