114 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



only faintly so. Moreover, the epigyimni, wliilst agreeing in 

 all examples in the main features of its sti'ucture, displays 

 considerable variaticjn, j)rincipally in t])e length of its tongue- 

 like piocess. ]n fact, from an excellent series — and all from 

 the one area — it is ditticult to find, in either sex, two examples 

 exactly alike, while some — in point of ornamentation at an}' 

 rate — are strikingly different. 



Hub. — Gordon vale ; females from orbicular webs, and males 

 chiefly by sweeping in foi'est and jungle. Two examples were 

 taken from the w^indow of a dwelling. All specimens were 

 collected during the months of May, Jane and July in 1912 

 and 1913. 



Araneus argentarius, sp. nor. 



(Plate xxiii., tigs. 38 and 39.) 



9 Cephalothorax, 1 mm. long, 0.7 mm. broad ; abdomen, 

 1.8 mm. long, 1 mm. broad. 



Cephalothorax. — Obovate, shining, dark brown, nearly 

 black. F<irti cejjhalica arched, pubescent, segmental groove 

 distinct ; ocular area broader than long ; clijjte/is moderately 

 deep. Pars thoracica arched, radial grooves distinct ; viedian 

 fovea deep ; marginal band moderately bi-oad, concolorous with 

 cephalothorax. Eyes. — Normal. Leys. — Short, strong, hairy, 

 spined, pale yellow, annulated with greyish-brown bands ; 

 relative lengths : 1, 2, 4, 3. Palpi. — Short, strong, similar in 

 colour, clothing and armature to legs. Falces. — Short, strong, 

 arched, apices apart, concolorous with cephalothorax. Ma.i'iUd' 

 and Lahiuin. — Normal ; concolorous with falces. Stcritinii. — 

 Concolorovis with foregoing, shield-sha[)ed, arched, surface un- 

 even. Abdoiiieii. — Boldly projecting over base of cephalothorax, 

 anterior and posterior extremities obtnse, widest at the mid- 

 dle ; just beneath and in front of posterior extremity there are 

 two small but prominent tubercles; supei-ior surface heavily 

 plated with silver and delicately reticulated, somewliat 

 depressed at middle ; sides and posterior angle dark brown, 

 nearly black, relieved by splashes of silvei- ; inferior surface 

 dark brown (PI. xxiii., tig. 39). Epiyijinini. — A transverse 

 plaque with two lateral pits. 



Hab. — Grordonvale, taken from nests in low forest 

 August 30, 1912. 



