BY W. J. RAINBOW. 335 



the cephalothorax, abdomen and legs of this remarkable sj^ider have 

 a like deterring effect upon predatory birds — that they form, in 

 other words, a coat of safety. Mr. G. F. Atkinson has drawn 

 attention to an American form of Cyrtaraclme*' that mimicks a 

 snail shell, the inhabitants of which are exceedingly common 

 during the summer and autumn. The abdomen of the spider 

 overhangs the cephalothorax, is broad at the base — broader, in 

 fact, than the length of the spider, and rounded oft' at the apex. 

 When resting upon the underside of a leaf, with its legs retracted, 

 it strongly resembled one of the snail shells by the colour and 

 shape of its abdomen. Two specimens collected by Mr. Atkinson 

 deceived him at first, but a few thi-eads of silk led him to make 

 an examination. The spider seemed so confident of its protection, 

 that it would not move when he jarred the plant, and only dis- 

 played signs of movement when transferred to the cyanide bottle. 

 Some cocoons of C. mii.ltiiuieata were also described that strongly 

 resembled insect galls. Kpelra iv((.gneri is a common spider in 

 the bush around S3^dney. It is brightly coloured with green and 

 yellow — colours admirably adapted for concealment when it drops 

 out of the web, and seeks shelter among the coarse herbage, 

 which it will do when alarmed. It is chiefly interesting, however, 

 on account of its web and leaf nest. The web is placed low 

 down, and in shape does not form a complete orb. The main 

 supporting lines from which the mesh depends, are stretched 

 horizontally and obliquely, and from the centre of these the radii 

 and spirals are directed. The irregular lines at the upper part of 

 the structure somewhat resemble the architecture of the typical 

 Theridiidce. The leaf-nest is placed at the base from which the 

 radii start, and in this, during the period of mating, both sexes 

 dwell, but at other periods the female is the only tenant. The 

 leaf most commonly used is that of a Eucalypt, which is worked 

 into the desired shape according to the leaf used ; thus, for 

 instance, a narrow leaf is rolled spirally, and a broader one is 

 doubled OA-er, the edges being tightly bound down with silk. In 



* American Naturalist, xxii. ]!p. 545-516. 



