t6 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



ricate snares for the capt ure of prey. C. excavata, L. Koch, which 

 simulates, in form and colour, the excreta of a bird, usually rests 

 upon the upper surface of a leaf; other species, such as the one 

 collected by .Mr. Bullock, take up their position, when at rest, 

 upon the stems and branches of shrubs, and in such positions 

 simulate wart-like excrescences or irregularities of bark. Such 

 examples as these can only be regarded in the light of (1) 

 protective, (2) attractive, (3) aggressive formation and colouration : 

 Firstly, because by it the animal is more or less shielded from 

 natural enemies ; secondly, because by its appearance insects upon 

 which it preys are attracted ; and, thirdly, in this respect it is 

 iggressive. 



Argiope bullockii calls for little comment. The genus Argiope 

 is, of course, remarkable for the beauty of its species, and the 

 one hereunder described is no exception. Together with the 

 spider, Mr. Bullock forwarded its cocoon. This consists of a mass 

 of loose, rlocculent silk, which enveloped two rather closely 

 fabricated cushion-like ova-sacs. The loose material had a num- 

 ber of small green silken pellets attached to it, and wrought in 

 amongst its threads ; the eggs within the sacs were of a trans- 

 lucent reddish colour, and from these a day or two after arrival, 

 hundreds of spiderlings hatched out, and, as is their wont, soon 

 commenced to fabricate a dense sheet of web in common. 



Sub-family Argiopin^e. 



Group ARGIOPE^E. 



Genus Argiope, And. in Sav. 



Argiope bullockii, sp. nov. 



(Fig. 3). 



9 Cephalothorax 3"5 mm. long, 3*4 mm. broad; abdomen 

 6'7 mm. long, 4-4 mm. broad. 



Cephalothorax. — Broadly ovate, yellow, densely clothed with 

 silvery pubescence. Pars cephalica arched, narrow in front. 

 Pars thoracica broad, arched ; segmental and radial grooves 

 distinct; median groove or depression deep; marginal band 

 narrow. 



Eyes. — Eight, in three groups of 4, 2, 2. The four comprising 

 median group form a trapezium ; of these the median pair are 

 much the largest, and are separated from each other by a space 



