BY W. J. RAINBOW. 337 



sijecinien that had been forwarded to the Australian IMuseum 

 from Cavendish, in the Western District of Victoria; it was a 

 female, and was mounting guard over exactly one dozen egg-bags. 

 The cocoons ai-e spherical, uniform in size, someAvhat brittle, and 

 in appearance resemble the kernels of the Quandong [Fusanus 

 acumiiia'u-t). Mr. H. O. Forbes, F.R.G-.S.,* discovered a like 

 case of mimicry in JaA a, but his book is so well-known that it 

 would be superfluous here to recapitulate the facts as communicated 

 by him. It need only be noted, therefore, that the species dis- 

 covered by him formed the type of a new genus, Ornitlioscatoides, 

 Camb. Mr. G. F. Atkinson also notes a case of mimiciyt by a 

 small spider of this family — Tkomistts aleatorius, Hentz. This 

 species is very common on grass, to the summit of the culms 

 of which it climbs, where, clinging with its posterior legs 

 to the stem and its anterior legs on each side approximated 

 and extended outwards, it thus forms an angle with the 

 stem, strikingly similar to that formed by the spikelets. 

 The genus Stephaowpis, Cambridge, is another group of remark- 

 able spiders. By the form and arrangements of their legs, which 

 are laterigrade, they can move forwards, backwards, or in a lateral 

 direction with facility. They are generally found lurking under 

 loose bark, or among the rugulosities of trees. Their colour and 

 rugged appearance — closely resembling bark — not only shield 

 them from the raids of enemies, but aid them in the capture of 

 prey, which they take either b}' stealth or pursuit. The coloura- 

 tion and ornamentation of the genus Cymbacha are also protective. 

 These spiders also have laterigrade ambulatory limbs. They are 

 found in similar localities to the Stephanojns. C. f'esliva and C. 

 saucia are found both in Queensland and New South Wales, and 

 each has been found in the vicinity of Sydney. While upon the 

 Lateriyraihe, I must not omit to mention those of the genus 

 Vocoiiia, Thor. These huge uncanny spiders are common enough 



* A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago, pp. 63-G5, and 

 a figure. 



t American Naturalist, xxii. pp. 545, 546. 



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