314 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



however, the abdomen is rather tough or leathery beneath in the 

 epigastric region. The first two genera in this section, of which 

 Orchestina is one, differ somewhat from the normal type of the 

 family, but their characters are not considered by Simon sufl&cient 

 to warrant the creation of a sub-family. Oonops pulcher, Tempi., 

 a European species, is included in our collection. These spiders 

 are, as a rule, of a uniform tint, and generally yellowish or orange- 

 red, but the abdomen is always of a lighter colour than the other 

 parts of the body. 



Oonopidfe loricatae contain all those species in which the abdomen 

 is armed with hard plates or scales. In typical forms, such as those 

 of Gamasomorpha, Dysderina, etc., the entire superior surface of 

 the abdomen is completely covered with a dorsal plate, oval, and 

 more or less convex; the inferior surface is also provided with a 

 scutum or plate, which is narrowest in front, where it surrounds 

 the pedicle, and is dilated a little above at the point of its insertion ; 

 the plate is prolonged to tht; rear, and is truncated immediately in 

 front of the base of the spinnerets. 



The teguments, which are very hard, are often smooth and 

 brilliant, sometimes granulated, finely striated, or punctated; they 

 are furnished with isolated hairs or bristles, which are at times 

 fine and cylindrical, sometimes depressed and lanceolate, but very 

 rarely plumose. 



The OonopidiB loricatse embrace eleven genera, only one of 

 which — Gamasomorpha, Karsch, — is at present known to occur in 

 Australia. There are others, however, so widely distributed, that 

 it is only reasonable to assume they may hereafter be recorded 

 from this continent. 



Gamasomorpha has a wide geographical range. It 



rsCC) n ^^ ^^ follows"*: — "Arabia petrtea ; ins. Taprobane ; 



Vs /Y Singapore; Birmania ; Sumatra; ins. Philippinge; 



Japonia ; Nova-Hollandia ; Antilhe et Venezuela." 



It also occurs in the South Sea Islands. G. loricata, 



Fig. 26 L. Koch, is found in Australia, but it was originally 

 recorded from the Island of Upolu. It has six eyes, 

 in three series of two each ; they are arranged as delineated in 

 the figure herewith (Fig. 26). 



The Oonopidffi are all small, never exceeding 4 mm. in length. 

 G. loricata is only 3 mm., and some species are even less. They 

 are usually found amongst vegetable debris; one European species 

 has been recorded as dwelling in the interior of houses, its presence 

 having been noted in herbaria and entomological collections, where 

 it doubtless preys upon minute Acarids.* This species, although 

 it has not been recorded from Australia, has probably been 



■* Simon — Loc. cit., p. 301. 

 5 Simon — Loc. cit., p. 291. 



