•220 RECORDS OF THK AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 



Simon), and also in New Zealand (L. plagata, Simon), it is only- 

 natural to suppose that it will sooner or later be found to exist 

 upon the mainland of the Commonwealth. The range of this 

 srenus is " N. Guinea et N. Zealandia." 1 7 



Notwithstanding the fact that the section Araneai comprises 

 only five genera, three of which are represented in Australia, it 

 nevertheless includes one, Araneus, Clerck, which probably 

 embraces more species than any other included in this branch of 

 the fauna. About one thousand species are known to naturalists, 

 and many still await description. The series or groups into which 

 the genus may be systematically divided have been exhaustively 

 treated by Simon in his masterly work, " Histoire Naturelle des 

 Araignees," and to this every arachnological student, anxious to 

 acquire something more than a superficial knowledge of his 

 subject, must turn. 



The genus Araneus ( = Epeira, Auct.) is represented in all parts 

 of the habitable globe; many of the species are widely distributed, 

 and some are exceedingly common and variable. Simon defines 

 the range of the genus as " Orbis totius regiones omues." 1 s 



Amongst trees, between bushes, amidst coarse herbage, in 

 gardens and orchards from early spring to late autumn these 

 spiders may be found. The webs are orbicular, but varying 

 degrees of regularity and skill maybe noted in the structure, and 

 in the habits of the species. Some construct a perfect orb, the 

 size of which depends largely upon the species ; but it may also 

 be influenced by situation or surroundings. There is usually a 

 " nest " or resting-place at the extremity of some spur or branch- 

 let, formed by bringing a number of leaves together and binding 

 them into position with silk. This retreat, when found, is always 

 connected with the hub of the web by what McCook terms a 

 "trap-line." The retreat is used as a refuge from insectivorous 

 foes or shelter in wet or excessively windy weather. Some orb- 

 webs are imperfect : that is to say, they do not always form a 

 complete circle — a sector may be wanting; some, indeed, only 

 fabricate about half an orb. One of the most extraordinary webs 

 I have ever seen I saw at Mosman. This was some years ago, 

 before this favourite suburb of Sydney was built upon as it is 

 now, and when it was a beauty spot as Nature designed it. This 

 interesting snare was stretched between three large native shrubs, 

 the positions of which described a triangle. For the want of a 

 better term this may be described as a double web, to differentiate 



1 'Simon — Loc. cit., p. 7i)5. 

 ^Simon— Lor. cit., p. 829. 



