NOTES ON LIFE-HISTORIES OF AUSTRALIAN ARANEIDvE — RAINBOW. 9 



in others, sinuous ; one figure shows the secondary tube, or 

 cul-de-sac, directed obliquely upwards, whilst another depicts it 

 directed downwards and outwards. An interesting feature in 

 connection with this group, as also species of the genus Atypus, 

 Latr., is the enlarging of a portion of the tube for the reception 

 of the ova-sac or " cocoon." This usually occurs a little below 

 the surface, and here the tube, for a short distance downwards, is 

 enlarged to about twice the diameter of the nest at its aperture. 

 Sometimes the enlargement is only upon one side, but at others 

 it is perfectly round. Gillies found white cocoons with bright 

 golden yellow eggs in some of these enlargements. The cocoons 

 were suspended from the sides by threads of silk, but sufficient 

 space was left to enable the Spider to pass up or down. This 

 observer also noted that in digging out a nest, he accidentally cut 

 through another which he had not observed, and found the Spider 

 in the enlargement " embracing the side of the cocoon." It is 

 well known that the maternal instinct is very strong with Spiders. 

 Many mount guard over their cocoons, and never leave them, even 

 for food, until the young have hatched. Doubtless the one referred 

 to above was so employed when her home was thus rudely broken. 



There is one bifurcated nest in our collection from northern 

 New South Wales, but unfortunately unaccompanied by the 

 architect. It is obviously of the Neraesiete type, and may have 

 been constructed by a species of Arbanitis. Both chambers have 

 been plugged with cotton wool, and all the soil removed from the 

 silk. The outer layers are coarse and discoloured by the soil, but 

 the inner lining is beautifully white. Another from the same 

 locality is simple, but somewhat enlarged laterally near the top. 



Sub-family Barychelin^. 



This sub-family is represented in Australia by the genera 

 Idiommata, Auss., and Trittame, L. Koch. Of these, the former 

 also occurs in New Guinea, Pelew Islands, and New Caledonia. 

 Trittame contains a single species, T, gracilis, L. Koch. 



Around Sydney, Idiommata reticulata, L. Koch, is somewhat 

 common ; it also occurs in Queensland, having been taken at Port 

 Mackay, and again in New Guinea (Mt. Scratchley, at 12,200 ft.)^^ 



The nests of these Spiders are deep, simple, and cylindrical, the 

 burrows directed sometimes vertically and sometimes obliquely ; 

 the lid is of the " wafer " type, circular, and rigid, and always 

 concolorous with its surroundings, being composed of silk and 

 thin layers of earth. Within, the tube is lined with a thin layer 

 of silk, and discoloured. 



No observations have been recorded in respect of T. gracilis. 



13 Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., xxiii., 1898, p. 329. 



