172 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Abdomen broadly obovate, strongly arched, slightly projecting 

 over base of cephalothorax, very finely pubescent, chrome yellow, 

 relieved towards anterior extremity and sides with a series of 

 black and dark brown markings, and irregularly shaped large and 

 small concolorous spots; in addition to these there is also present, 

 and running down the centre, a delicate net-work of tracery, barely 

 visible to the naked eye; the inferior surface is also finely pubes- 

 cent, chrome yellow and ornamented down the centre with a series 

 of twelve dark brown spots, arranged in pairs, rather widely 

 apart, the posterior pair especially so. 



Epigyne as in figure. 



Hab. Cobbity, New South Wales. 



Genus Saccodoraus,* gen. nov. 



The species for which a new genus is now proposed was first 

 brought under my notice soiDe years ago by jMr. W. W. Froggatt, 

 who gave me both the specimen and its nest. These have since 

 been added to the collection of the Australian Museum. When 

 examining it at the time it appeared to me there could be little 

 doubt as to the position it should occupy, namely, in the sub-family 

 Misumeninie. But, whilst many features appeared to point to this 

 sub-family as its correct place, there were nevertheless, some that 

 were decidedly conflicting, and these suggested certain important 

 analogies with the sub family Stephanopsinaj. Indeed, the form 

 was so novel, that I hesitated to describe it until I could obtain 

 more specimens, and devote more time and labour to the elucida- 

 tion of the problems presented. 



In my studies I was, happily, assisted by my esteemed friend, 

 Mr. H. R. Hogg, M.A., of Melbourne, who, writing to me upon 

 the subject said : — •" In this group [^ e., Misumenere] it has the 

 nearest affinity with the sub-group Diajete, and I place it as a new 

 genus between Hericeus, E. Simon, and Dice.a, Thorell, the chief 

 points keeping it out of either being : forehead sloping instead of 

 vertical ; legs smooth instead of having certain bespinements ; 

 rear row of eyes less recurved than front row." 



During the interval that has elapsed since the above was written 

 the subject has l)een further studied, with the result that both 

 Mr. Hogg and myself still incline to the opinion that this species 

 should form a new genus to be placed — provisionally — between 

 Hericeus and Dicna. 



Nevertheless there are yet, to my mind, some very debateable 

 points to be removed before the subject can be satisfactorily 

 settled, and it may even be necessary hereafter, either to amend 

 one of the existing sub-families, or to found a new one for its 



* Derivation : !laKKos, a bag or purse; 86fxos a dwelling place. 



