ARACHNIDA 73 



found a large, elaborate and artistically constructed nest (Plate in, 

 , fig. 5) niade of twigs and leaves, and so bound together with threads 

 as to form, beneath and within the mass, a spacious chamber accessible 

 through a circular opening in one side. To the upper part of the 

 side of this nest are attached two small spherical egg cocoons {eg-). 



LATHRODECTES APICALIS. 



For the most part rare in the archipelago. Common only on 

 Charles where they were found in May about Black Beach and were 

 especially common along the lower part of the road leading from the 

 beach to the upper parts of the island. They live here in cavities of 

 lava fragments lying loosely on the ground, spinning an irregular web 

 about the entrance to their retreat. The spiders usually keep out of 

 sight, but may generally be found in some crevice or hole of the lava 

 blocks near the web. 



On Chatham only a few individuals were seen, and the species was 

 rare on Tower. On Bindloe it was rather abundant. The webs 

 were here generally on the ground at the side of loose stones, or had 

 one edge attached to the stone and the other to the ground. The 

 spiders themselves hid, as did those on Charles Island, in crevices of 

 the stones near the webs. 



ARGYRODES JUCUNDUS. 

 Mostly taken from the web of a Gasteracaiitha itisulana^ some 

 taken from small orbs attached to large ones of this species, one taken 

 alone in an isolated orb. In the first two cases the Gasteracantha 

 webs were occupied also by their proper owners. 



GASTERACANTHA INSULANA. 



Common on all the islands on which it occurs, except James. Has 

 no special habitat. About Tagus Cove, Albemarle, equally abundant 

 on the dry hillsides and in the wettest parts of the mangrove swamps; 

 common also in the Narboro mangrove swamps, but very scarce in 

 the swamps of Elizabeth Bay, Albemarle ; abundant at sea level at 

 Iguana Cove, Albemarle, and specimens found here also at 2,000 feet 

 elevation. 



The species constructs large regular orbs always vertical or nearly 

 so. The spiders are conspicuous everywhere on account of their color 

 and are easily captured for they make no attempt to escape or to de- 

 ceive the intruder. Apparently they have no natural enemies on the 

 islands. 



