BY W. J. RAINBOW. 631 



Abdomen ovate, boldly projecting over base of cephalothorax. 

 Colours : running down the centre from anterior, and terminating 

 close to postei'ior, extremity is a broad pale yellowish patch, 

 slightly broadest in front, and moderately and finely punctated; 

 the patch is broadest at its anterior extremity and bordered in 

 front and laterally with a sinuous line of bright silvery granules; 

 laterally the colour is dark mahogany-brown ; inferior surface 

 brown, but a shade lighter in tint. 

 Epujyne a simple transverse slip. 

 llah. — Cooma*; collected by Mr. J. D. Ogilby. 

 The position of the genus Fachygnatlia in the system of the 

 classification of the Araneidoi is not yet finally determined. 

 Certain authors, as Westring, Ohlert, Simon, Lebert, and others 

 associate it with the family Theridiidce, but Thorell points out 

 that the spiders of the genus Pachygnatha deviate from the typical 

 Theridiid(e ; Bertkau considers the genus as representing an 

 independent group, to which he also refers the genus Tetragnalha; 

 Meuge, that it forms an independent family, of which it is the 

 sole representative; finally, Stavele}' associates the genus Pachy- 

 gnatha with the family Linyphiida;. In commenting upon this 

 question Wagner remarks that the study of these spiders, which 

 is very incomplete, has led him to the conclusion that the grouping 

 of Menge is the nearest approach to the truth, but in adopting 

 Menge's classification, he does not consider the question settled, 

 and accepts pi'ovisionally the position allotted by that author 

 to this genus, t After giving the subject considerable thought 

 and study, I have also come to the conclusion that Menge's 

 elucidation of the position is the most correct, and consider it not 

 unlikely that it will ultimately be accepted. 



* This .species appears to liave a very wide range. Since the above was 

 written I have recei\ed a specimen from Gisborne, Victoria, Mi. George 

 Lyall, Junr., having collected it at that locality. 



t Mem. de I'Acad. Imp. des Sci. de St. Petersbourg, vii^ Serie, Tome 

 xlii., No. 11. L' Industrie des Aianeina: llecherches de Woldemar Wagner, 

 1894, p. 150. 



