— 128 — 



Descriptions of some New Trap-Door Spiders; Their 

 Nests and Food habits. 



By Geo. F. Atkinson. 

 (Continued from p. 117.) 



DESCRIPTIONS. 



Prefatory Xote. It is not surprising that in a collection of some 40 

 specimens there would be found several species, nor that a large number of 

 these would prove to be new and undescribed forms, where so little atten- 

 tion has been given to spiders in general, and especially those of the order 

 Terrilelarice, as has been given in America. 



It has been a great pleasure to me to observe the nests and habits of 

 so many of these creatures, which by their solitary and secluded life gen- 

 erally escape our observation. It has seemed necessary, that, in connec- 

 tion with interesting descriptions of their nests, architectural and food 

 habits, these forms should be described and named. So interested have 

 I become during the past year in the work of N. M. Hentz, that it would 

 have given me more pleasure to find a specimen described by him than 

 to find a new form. I feel sure that I have found one of his species, and 

 possibly one other related species. I undertook the work of description 

 with great reluctance, and have found it to be no small task. But my 

 labors have been greatly lessened, and 1 have been sensibly encour- 

 aged by the kindness of Dr. Geo. Marx, of Washington, Prof. J. II. 

 Emerton and Samuel Henshaw of Boston. Dr. Marx loaned me works 

 from his private library, Prof. Emerton, placed for my study his excellent 

 collection of Arachnological publications, and specimens for comparison, 

 which are now in the Mass. Inst. Tech., and showed me further kindness 

 in directing me to the most useful works in the Library of the Boston 

 Natural History Society, Mr. Henshaw also aided me in the same way 

 and gave me the use of the specimens of Territelaria which are in the 

 Museum of the Society. 



I have also found works in the Boston Public Library which have 

 aided me. 



In the value of generic and specific characters I have been guided by 

 those adopted by Anton Ausserer 1 , and the Rev. O. P. Cambridge 8 , 

 who have given considerable study to members of the Terrifelaria. 



I have followed the classification adopted by Ausserer in his Bei- 

 traege znr Kenntniss der Terri/e/arice. 



1 Beitiage zur Kenntniss der Territelariae, Auss. 1871, and Zweiier Beitrag etc. 

 1876. 



2 Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th, Ed. pp. 291 and 597, Harvesting Ants and 

 Trap Door Spiders, Moggridge, and Supplement. 



