290 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW ARANEID.E OF N.S.W., 



Sternum cordate, pale yellow, sparingly clothed with short 

 sessile hairs. 



Abdomen obovate, moderately convex, slightly projecting over 

 base of cephalothorax ; superior surface silvery-grey, mottled with 

 yellowish- brown and furnished with minute hoary hairs ; a small 

 but tolerably prominent yellow-brown mark towards the anterior 

 extremity and seated at the centre. The inferior surface of a 

 dull yellow colour. 



Epigyne a short blunt dark process directed forwards. 



Hah. — Bungendore. 



Family THERIDIID^. 



The spiders of this family are exceedingly interesting, and many 

 of them are remarkable for their brilliancy of coloration, in 

 which respect the specimen herein described (Thevidion mar gar i- 

 tarium, which I so name on account of the strong resemblance 

 of the superior surface of its abdomen to mother-of-pearl) is a 

 striking example. Bush and scrub lands, orchards, gardens, the 

 crevices of walls and rocks, and the interior of buildings are the 

 situations in which the TheridiidcE most abound. Their snares 

 have no claim to architectural skill, but are constructed without 

 any apparent plan or design, and are composed of very fine lines 

 which cross and interlace each other from every conceivable 

 angle or point. 



Genus T H e R i d i o N, Walck. 



Theridion margaritarium, sp.nov. 

 (Plate X. figs. 3, 3a, 36, 3c.) 

 g. Cephalothorax.. 2 mm. long, 1-5 mm. broad ; abdomen, 4 mm, 

 long, 1 mm. broad. 



Cephalothorax pale yellow, moderately convex. Caput elevated, 

 rounded on the sides and upper part, compressed in front, tinged 

 with red at base. Chjpeus pale yellow, convex, with a deep longi- 

 tudinal groove running its entire length, the edges of which are 

 slif^htly tinged with red ; a few short white hairs are distributed 



