415 



and the shortness of the abdomen it appears to come nearest to A. loiigi- 

 palpus from Brazil. 



July 29th, 1896. — 1) Appendix to the Australian CUvinides (Fam. Ca- 

 rabidae). By Thomas G. Sloane. Since his paper was read (at the June 

 Meeting) the author has had the opportunity of examining the CUvinides of 

 King's Sound, W. A., and its vicinity, in the Macleay Museum. The col- 

 lection comprises sixteen species, of which two are described as new. — 

 2) Descriptions of new Species of Australian Coleoptera. By Arthur M. Lea. 

 Two genera and thirty-four species belonging to the Families Tenehrionidae 

 and Curculionidae are described as new. Two very interesting species are 

 noted — an apterous Pierohelaeus and a Cossonid having an 8-jointed funicle. 

 — 3) Descriptions of some new Araneidae of New South Wales, No. 6. By 

 W. J. Rainbow. Eight species, comprising representatives of the genera 

 Nephila^ Epeira, Dolomedes, and Actino2ms^ are described as new. The last 

 nanïed is specially interesting from the fact that it is the first of the genus 

 recorded from Australia. Five of the spiders described are remarkable for 

 their protective colouration or mimicry ; in addition to these, numerous other 

 examples are instanced. After summing up all the facts recorded, the writer 

 concludes by dividing the Araneidae into two groups, viz.: — \ a) Spiders 

 whose colouration and b) formation is protective : and 2) Spiders that mi- 

 mick, a) animate or b) inanimate objects, and c) whose colours are attract- 

 ive. — 4) Description of a new Species of Ablepharus from Victoria, with 

 critical Remarks on two other Australian Lizards. By A. H. S. Lucas, 

 M.A., B.Sc, and C. Frost, F.L.S. Ablepharus rhodonoides , sp. n., from 

 Mildura, is allied to A. Greyi^ Gray, by the head-scaling, but in habit it re- 

 sembles species like A. Muelleri^ Fischer, and A. lineatus, Bell., which are 

 remarkable for the reduction in the size of the limbs, as well as in the 

 number of the digits. A. Greyi described from West Australia is recorded 

 from the Boggabri District, N.S.W. Hemisphaeriodon tasmanicimi, Lucas and 

 Frost (Proceedings, 1893, p. 227), as the outcome of the examination of 

 series of additional specimens, is now reduced to a variety of the very 

 variable Homolepida casuarineae ^ D. and B. — 5i On a new Genus and 

 three new Species of Mollusca from New South Wales, New Hebrides, and 

 Western Australia. By John Brazier, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. — Mr. Edgar R. Wait e 

 exhibited a female and eight young of Phascohgale ßavipes, obtained in a 

 weathered hole in a sandstone block on the River Hawkesbury. The nest 

 was entirely composed of dried Eucalyptus leaves. It was mentioned that 

 although it is constantly stated that no true pouch exists in members of the 

 Phascologale^ this is scarcely correct. When very young the ofi"spring are 

 completely hidden by the outer wall of the pouch closing over them. As 

 they increase in size, the mouth dilates and no longer conceals the young. 

 Mr. Oldfield Thomas evidently does not admit Krefft's statement that the 

 species mentioned is provided with ten teats. Although eight is the usual 

 number, Mr. Waite had seen several females with ten teats, and there is 

 one in the Australian Museum with twelve and a young one on each teat. 

 It would therefore appear that in Phascnhigale the number of mammae is not 

 a constant character, or three otherwise similar species would have to be 

 admitted, characterised by the possession of eight, ten, and twelve mammae 

 respectively. 



