102 TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. 



more elongate form both of the cephalothorax and abdomen ; the' 

 colours also of the present species are more distinctly distributed ; a 

 well-defined narrow marginal band, irregular on the inside, sur- 

 rounds the thorax ; and the caput has a large curved patch of the same 

 on either side of the ocular area, with a broad tapering band tinged 

 with orange, which runs from immediately behind the eyes to the 

 thoracic junction, where it ends in a point. The transverse diameter 

 of the ocular area is also less in proportion to its longitudinal 

 diameter than in N. ccemenfaria, and the eyes are all smaller, but 

 placed on a similar oval eminence, and several bristles are directed 

 forwards from the middle of the lower margin of the cly^seus, while 

 one or two others are found in the ocular area, and three or four 

 more (long, strong, and nearly erect) form a longitudinal row 

 along the middle of the central tapering thoracic band. The Falces 

 are deeply yellow-brown, with two to three elongate oval patches 

 or short longitudinal parallel bands on their upper sides; in their 

 armature the falces are similar to those of N. ccementaria. The 

 Labium appeared to be less broad in proportion to its height, and 

 the Sternum smaller and of a more oval form than in that species. 

 The Abdomen is similarly marked, though the chocolate-brown 

 markings appeared to be less deep and dense, being more broken 

 up, but still forming several fairly defined, bold, and broad angular 

 bars or chevrons on the upper side. The inferior spinners, though 

 small (like most of the corresponding pair in species of this family), 

 are yet considerably stronger than in iV. ccementaria. 



Adult females of this spider were found in tubular silk-lined 

 holes in the earth, closed at the external orifice with a flat scale- 

 like hinged lid, covered with lichens and mosses. Not quite half 

 way down this tube is a tubular branch running off upwards at an 

 angle of 45° or less ; the main tube also at this point is iurnished 

 with an elliptical-hinged valve, with which the spider appears to 

 have the power to close the entrance to the branch or to shut off 

 the upper part of the main tube. This branch (found also in the 

 tubes of very young examples) seems to be certainly a strong dis- 

 tinguishing character in the economy of the species, and separates 

 it at once from A'", ccementaria. In the nest of A^. meridionalis the 

 tube also projects at times above the surface of the soil upAvards 

 among the herbage which serves to conceal it. Costa appears to 

 have had before him this latter species as Avell as Avhat is here 

 taken as the typical N. meridionalis, as he speaks of the nests 

 under his observation as being frequently branched, while his 

 description would suit both species ; his figure, however, more 



