26 HKCORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



bilicata, L. K. This species is widely distributed. I liave seen 

 specimens from many localities. Koch's tpye specimen came from 

 Port Mackay. The species is common around Sydney, and may 

 be collected all the year round. It lui-ks undei- stones, or almost 

 any refuse lying upon the ground, under which it may rest 

 in security. When disturbed it rushes off in (}uest of shelter with 

 great rapidity. It constructs a small web, consisting of a few 

 lines, but this is useless for the capture of prey. I have often 

 sought, and in vain, for the ova-sac. 



Diaprocarns, Sim., is recorded from "Nova-Hollandia merid.""'^ 

 This contains only one species, D. nndtipunctatun, Sim., from 

 " Nova-Hollandia merid.," and it is unknown to me. 



Phylarchus, Sim., contains six species. The range of this genus 

 is '' Asia centr. ; ins. Taprobane ; ins. Philippin^e ; N.-Hollandia ; 

 N. -Caledonia. "^^ P. splendens, iiim.( — E^iryop is elegcms, Keys.), 

 occurs in Australia and New Caledonia. Keyserling's tpye came 

 from Peak Downs. This species has the same habit as B. nmbili- 

 cnta. 



THERIDIE.f:. 



The spiders of this group are distinctly sedentary. They 

 are to be found inside buildings, in caves, under rock-shelters, on 

 the spurs and bi'anches of shrubs and trees, and sometimes on the 

 trunks of trees. Their retitelarian snares are of indeterminate 

 form, and are composed of brilliant threads, which cross each other 

 at every conceivable angle. The cocoons are, as a general rule, 

 globose in form, rai-ely elongate. They are composed of a tough, 

 silken tissue, closely Avoven and opaque ; the outer and inner walls 

 have a somewhat woolly appearance. The colour varies : some 

 are white, some yellowish, some brown, and some are of a dull 

 greyish tint. With few exceptions, the cocoons are attached to 

 and suspended from the web. 71iPridio7i himaculatnm, Linn., 

 and Thfirid^ila, sj^p., are recorded by Simon as carrying their ova- 

 sacs attached to their spinnerets, in exactly the same manner as 

 those of the genus Lycosa, Latr. Those species which suspend 

 their cocoons to the web, usually construct three or four, or even 

 more, and these are generally placed close to each other ; but those 

 which carry their ova-sacs make only one. Each ova-sac contains 

 an immense number of eggs. In addition to being sedentary, the 

 Theridiete are, as a rule, solitary. Thpridion pximuim, Keys., of 

 South America, is a social species, many individuals living to- 

 gether, each uniting its web to that of its neighbour, the whole 

 thus making, apparently, one large, comprehensive snare. 



'^ Simon — Loc. cif., p. 529. 

 1' Sitjioii — Loc. cit., p. 529. 



