TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS. <")09 



iWa/c.9.— The males of this species are found in nests exactly 

 like those occupied by females. I found four in the months of 

 March and April. 



MOGGRIDGEA CoEGENSIS Purcell (PI. 27 A). 



{Ann. S.Afr. Mus. 3, 71.) 



This is the largest of the local species of Moggridgca. They 

 are probably fairly abundant, but so far I have found thetn singly 

 and seldom. At Sidbury lately a group of about half a dozen was 

 found at the base of an antheap. The nests are from 4 to 6 

 inches deep, the lids are D-shaped, and overlap the mouth of 

 the tube. They are ver)^ thick, and are often disguised with 

 pieces of grass and leaves worked into the upper surface. The 

 inner surface has the fang markings very clearly shown. 



On one occasion, when digging up a patch of moss-grown 

 earth. I found in its midst a nest whose lid was covered with 

 moss, so that it was absolutely impossible to detect it when 

 viewed from above. 



These lids are always fastened down witli web during the 

 incubation period. The eggs are enclosed in a snow-white sac, 

 attached to the sides of the tube, in such a way that the spider 

 can easily pass. 



The lids of six adult specimens measured about an inch 

 from side to side, three-quarters of an inch from hinge to front, 

 and from one-eighth to one quarter inch at the thickest part. As 

 vet I have found no males. 



MOGGRIDGEA TeRRESTRIS Hcivitt. 



(Rec. Albany Mus. 3, 13.) 



Up to the present this species has usually been found on 

 bare flats under the shade of trees and bushes. The lids, which 

 are D-shaped, lie flat, just above ground, but not flush with it. 

 They are thicker than those of M. rupicola and M. cvudeni, and 

 resemble the latter very closely except that they have no crenated 

 edge. 



The white central portion of the inner surface of the lid 

 projects slightly, and fits the mouth of the tube. The rim 

 outside this is brown, and lies on the ground surrounding the 

 tube. 



In all cases examined the tubes were longer than in either 

 of the two species just mentioned. The longest I have found 

 measured 3^ inches. At the mouth and halfway down the 

 tube the diameter was a quarter of an inch. Midway between 

 mouth and middle, and also between middle and bottom of 

 tube, it widened to a third of an inch. This very distinct narrow- 

 ing and widening of the tube occurs without exception in this 

 species, but it is unusual to find the narrowing and widening 

 repeated as in the case mentioned. 



The lining of the tube is not so thick and tough as in any 

 of the other three local species of this genus. 



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