NOTES ON LIFE-HISTOEIES OF AUSTRALIAN ABANEID^ — RAINBOW. 7 



Suh-family CTENiziNiE. 



In 1870, the Rev. 0. P. Cambridge described and figured a 

 male example from the Swan River, West Australia, for which 

 he proposed the name Idiops sigillatus^ Simon, however, regards 

 it as belonging to the widely distributed genus Aca7Uhodon, Guer., 

 the range of which he defines as : " Syria ; Arabia merid. ; Asia 

 centr. ; India et Burmania ; Africa tropica orient., occid. et austr.; 

 America merid.; Australia";'' whilst Idiops, Perty, occurs in Brazil 

 only.® This species is not represented in our collection. 



The nests of Acanthodon are simple, cylindrical, deep, and lined 

 throughout with silk, the lid is thick and heavy, of the " cork " 

 type, and the edge bevelled, thus allowing it to fit when closed, 

 as in a socket. It is made of several layers of silk and fine earth. 

 The exterior is always of the same colour as its surroundings, and 

 even if necessarry covered with moss ; hence, when closed, it is 

 very difficult to detect. The tenants never leave their dwellings 

 during the daytime, but go forth after dark in quest of prey, 

 which consists of ground roving insects. When at home, the lid 

 is always closed, and as the Spider hangs on to it tenaciously, 

 some force is required to open it from without. 



The genus Aganipjye, Cambr., has so far been found only in 

 Australia. Two species have been described and figured," namely, 

 A. subtristis, Cambr., from Adelaide, S.A., and A. latior, Cambr., 

 from West Australia. 



Arbanitis, L. Koch, occurs in Australia and New Zealand. 

 The type of the genus is A. longipes, L. Koch. This was originally 

 described under the generic name of Plioleuon, L. Koch,** a term 

 applied by Hampe, in 1856, for a genus of Beetles of the family 

 Silphidfe. The New Zealand form was assigned by Cambridge to 

 the genus Kemesia^^ the range of which, according to Simon, is 

 " Regio mediterranea prajsertim occid. "^" 



No observations have been recorded in connection with the 

 nests made by Spiders of the Australian genus — Agatdpfe^^&wXiV., 

 but those constructed by species of allied genera are described as 

 being simple, and lined throughout with silk ; the walls are hard, 

 and, in some instances, continued above the surface of the soil ; 

 the orifice is rarely open, but is ordinarily closed with a lid. The 

 latter is always thin, of the "wafer" type, sometimes rigid and 



4 Proc. Zool. Soc, 1870, p. 103, pi. viii., fig. 3. 



5 Simon — Hist. Nat. Araignees (2nd edit.), i., 1892, p. 91. 

 <> Simon — hoc. cit., p. 92. 



7 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), xix., 1877, pp. 28-29, pi. vi., figs. 3-4. 



8 Koch— Arach. Aust., i., 1871, pp. 471 and 491. 

 y Trans. N.Z. Inst., viii., 1877, p. 284. 



10 Simon— Hist. Nat. Araignees (2nd edit.), i., 1892, p. 112. 



