GoTEN.— 0/Z a Neic Species o/ Migtis. 125 



Both ill sliape and armature the legs and the palpi are 

 like those of M. distinctus. 



The genital aperture is a simple transverse slit. 



This spider bears a resemblance to 3/. paradoxus, Koch, 

 but differs fi'om the latter in having its front row of eyes curved 

 forward and its hind laterals closer to the fore laterals than 

 these are to the fore centrals, in the shape of the joints of the 

 legs and palpi, in the denticulation of the claws, in having no 

 distinct abdominal pattern, in the length of the superior pair 

 of spinners, in not having its sternum " aussei^st fein netzartig," 

 and in the absence of " ein den Schenkeln des vierten Paares 

 entsprechenden Eindruck.' ' 



Hah. Mokohinou Islands, Sandager. 



I have much pleasure in associating this Mkjas with the 

 name of Mr. F. Sandager, who is the author of some valu- 

 able papers on the fauna and flora of Mokohinou Islands, and 

 to whom I am indebted for my examples. 



This interesting little spider builds its nest on the bai'k of 

 trees {Coprosma, CordyUnc. and Fagiis). There are generally 

 several nests on each tree, the lowest being at least a foot 

 from the gi'ound, and the highest as high as the base of the 

 larger branches. The larger nests are for the most pai't built 

 in the hollows, and the smaller ones on the more even sur- 

 face of the bark. On this account the latter present the 

 appearance of small prominences or knots in the bai"k. The 

 lid is round, and in all my specimens hung on the outer side 

 of the tube, which is always lower than the inner side by the 

 diameter of the hd. Tliis build of the nest makes the Hd 

 when closed lie in the same plane with the bai-k of the tree — 

 an arrangement that seems designed to conceal the entrance 

 to the nes^ ^-om the enemies of its occupant. The tubes in 

 my possession vary from 3mm. to omm. in diameter, are from 

 three to four times as deep as wide, and ai-e tliickly lined 

 throughout with web. The shallowness of the nest is na 

 doubt of gi-eat advantage to the spider, for, should the en- 

 trance be discovered by an enemy, the tenant is enabled to 

 reach the hd in an instant, and, by thrusting the claws of its 

 powerful fore-legs into the web lining the under- sm-f ace, to- 

 liold the lid down so firmly as to prevent the ingress of its 

 would-be devourer. This is the method adopted by aU trap- 

 door spiders to resist the attempts of theii- enemies to open 

 the door of their nest. But the most wonderful feature of 

 the nest of Migas saudageri is the marvellous resem- 

 blance of its exterior surface to all the details of the bark on 

 which it is built. The colour, the variations of colour in 

 different trees, the scales, the very rugulosities of the bai-k, 

 ai-e reproduced with a fidelity that would do credit to art 

 artist. A more perfect example of protective mimicry I have 



