154 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID^ OF N.S.W. 



Labium concolorous also, short, broad, and rounded off at 

 extremity. 



Sternum cordate, sparingly furnished with short hairs ; similar 

 in colour to foregoing parts. 



Abdomen oblong-ovate, moderately convex, slightly projecting 

 over base of cephalothorax ; colour, pale yellow ; the superior 

 surface is ornamented with two longitudinal bands of bright led^ 

 commencing near centre, and terminating towards posterior 

 extremity, where they nearly meet, their inner margins rough and 

 irregular. 



Hah. — Sydney. 



The Drassidce construct silken cells which they fabricate among 

 the branchlets and leaves of plants, in the crevices of rocks and 

 walls, and under stones ; some species form a cell by bending over 

 the leaves at the extremity of the branchlets and binding them in 

 position with web, lining the interior with the same material. 

 The latter is the form of dwelling constructed by Drassus 

 perelegans. These spiders conceal themselves in their cells, 

 quitting them only when in quest of prey, which they capture 

 either by surprise or active pursuit. 



Family EPEIRID^. 

 Sub-Family GASTERACANTHID^. 

 Genus Cyrtarachne, Thor.- 



The singular spider herein described closely resembles Cyrtar- 

 achne furcata, Camb.,* but differs from that not only in coloration 

 and ornamentation, but also in the number and distribution of 

 the tubercles upon the abdomen, as well as in the general contour 

 of the latter. 



The Gasteracantliidce are remarkable for the hard, horny 

 epidermis of the abdomen, but in the specimen at present under 

 consideration the epidermis is soft and tumid. 



• P.Z.S., 1S77, pp. 560-2, Plate lvi., fig. 2. 



