TRAI'-DOOK SPIDERS. 6ll 



Explaiiafioii of Plates. 



A. Moggridgca coegensis Purcell. — Entrance to the nest ; about 



natural size. 

 B and C, Moggridgca crude ni Hewitt. — B is enlarged and shews 



the crenated margin of the lid and the entrance of the tube. 



C is only slightly enlarged, and shews the lower surface of 



the lids of two nests, the fang marks being clearly indicated. 



D. Acanthodon ahrahami Hewitt. — Lid and entrance to nest, 



about natural size. 



E. Pelmatorycter cntdeni Hewitt. — Shewing exterior portion of 



nest. 



F and G, Acantliodon crudeni Hewitt. — Shewing entrance to nest 

 and lid in side view and front view. 



H, K and L. Bessia minor Hewitt. — H shews the lower surface 

 of the lid and the entrance to the nest. K shews the two 

 lids of a nest in dorsal view (this photograph is, however, 

 a composite one taken from two slightly different points of 

 view). L gives an end view of an open lid, also the entrance 

 to a nest. 



M. Pelniatorxcfer parvus Hewitt. — Shewing the external bifur- 

 cated portions of several nests. 



Scientific Research in South Africa. — At the 



invitation of the South African Institution of Engineers, a 

 Conference of Scientific and Technical Societies recently took 

 place in Johannesburg, in order to consider the desirability of 

 establishing an Institution for Scientific Research in South 

 Africa. Amongst the resolutions adopted at the Conference 

 were the following : — " The members present recognise them- 

 selves as bound to combine in taking such steps as may be in 

 their power to hasten the scientific development of the resources 

 of South Africa, especially in view of the coming commercial 

 and industrial competition, and the obligations of this country 

 to do its share in providing suitably for the present and future 

 needs of the men who are fighting its battles, or who are dis- 

 abled thereby, as well as the needs of their dependents, and the 

 dependents of those who have given up their lives in defending 

 the honour of the British nation " ; and " That each of the 

 scientific and technical bodies to be subsequently agreed on, 

 which join together as a result of the resolution already 

 carried, shall nominate not more than three representatives to 

 act as a Central Committee. Such Central Committee shall 

 elect its own Executive Committee and sub-committees " ; 

 also " That the members of Council for the time being of the 

 various scientific and technical societies in South Africa and 

 Rhodesia, to be agreed on in accordance with the previous reso- 

 lution, shall form the General Committee." An Executive Com- 

 mittee of five was subsequently appointed, comprising two elec- 

 tricians, one mining engineer, an astronomer, and a metallurgist. 



