550 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID.^, 



According to L. Koch, of M. jjustidosa, L. Koch, " the egg-sac is- 

 white, longish, rounded at both ends, and encloses large numbers 

 of yellow eggs; the sac is contained in a half-rolled leaf, covered 

 with a thick white web projecting over its end."* 



The nest — or pseudo-nest, to quote Wagner — of Cymhacha 

 f estiva, L. Koch, like those of some other species of the same 

 genus, is an exceedingly interesting piece of work. It consists of 

 an eucalyptus leaf folded over so as to represent a somewhat 

 pyramidiform structure, as illusti'ated on PI. xviii. fig. 7. 



Within this structure the spider makes its cocoon. This is 

 somewhat spherical in shape, and consists of two parts, the 

 inferior or basal, and the superior. The latter is the larger of 

 the two, and somewhat thinner in texture; both are united at 

 their greatest diameter. Having completed the cocoon, the female 

 quits her wandering habits, seals down the entrance to the nest, 

 and devotes herself entirely to the care and protection of her 

 eggs, never once leaving the nest for nourishment; and even after 

 the young ones have hatched out, she still maintains her vigilance; 

 but she does not provide them with nourishment, nor does she 

 make any preparation for them in the shape of a nest. After 

 hatching out, the spiderlings remain in the nest until they have 

 undergone their first moult, but when this has been completed 

 they sally forth each to start an independent life, f 



In reviewing the spinning work of the Thomisidje, we find that 

 the members of this grouj) do not spin a web for the capture of 

 prey, but rely solely upon cunning and dexterity ; in many 

 instances, as in the Stephanojnsince, their colouration and rugged 

 appearance, closely resembling bark, are of immense value to 

 them, both as a means of procuring food, and as a protection 



* Die Arachniden Australiens, Vol. ii. p. 801. 



t lu au interesting paper on "The Origin and Relations of the Tube- 

 weaving Habit," in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1888. p. 215, Dr. 

 McCook says: — " The Laterigrades I have found sheltered underneath a 

 little tubular tent, guarding their cocoons, altliough the tube-making habit 

 teems to be least decided among these of all the Aranead familits. 



