402 Records of tlic Indian Museum. [Vol. XXII, 



description of N. montanus ' The Nilgiri specimens resemble the 

 Barkuda ones in size and colour. Only females have been obtained. 

 They attain a total length of 26 mm. with the carapace loi mm. 

 long bj' 8 J mm. broad. 



The burrow (pi. xviii, fig. 8) is more or less vertical and much 

 longer than that of Acanthodon bayktidensis. The silk with which 

 it is lined is of a somewhat firm consistency and may readil}' be 

 withdrawn from the burrow in tubular form. It is continued be- 

 yond the mouth of the burrow as a somewhat thin and flexible flap, 

 which forms the trap-door, covering the entrance, but not strong 

 enough to close it securely. When disturbed, therefore, the 

 spider retreats at once into the depths of its burrow which are 

 commonly so completelj' surrounded by tree roots as to make its 

 capture by digging almost impossible. Sometimes, however, this 

 species may also be found in termite mounds. 



The Nilgiri specimens were found on a roadside cutting where 

 their burrows were easily dug out. The}- bifurcated near the 

 bottom, and had a trapdoor between the two arms Nothing of 

 the sort was noticed in the few burrows that I dug out under less 

 favourable conditions on Barkuda Island. The trapdoor at the 

 entrance to the nest of the Nilgiri species resembled that of the 

 Barkuda species, but was on the vertical face of the cutting instead 

 of on a horizontal surface. 



Damarchus excavatus, sp. nov. 

 Text-fia;. i/; pi. xviii, fig. 7. 



Also found at Balasore, Orissa (female only). 



A spider of moderate size, dark brown in colour with con- 

 sjjicuous oblique whitish markings on the dorsal surface of the 

 abdomen. It forms long narrow oblique burrows whose entrance 

 is not closed by a trap-door, but is surrounded by a more or less 

 definite lip composed of small particles of soil fastened together 

 with silk. Often the burrows are completely shut oft' from the 

 surface; ending in an upwardly directed tube with domed roof 

 about an inch from the surface. In the case of a specimen 

 which constructed its tube against the side of a glass jar the 

 only entrance to the tube was closed thus for several weeks, and 

 r think it probable that this is done whenever the spider is not 

 hungry. The burrows are usually found in light soil under trees 

 and bushes in considerable numbers, and it is not impossible 

 that they may branch and open into each other, but I have not 

 succeeded in finding anything of the sort. This, however, must 

 not be taken as proof that it does not exist, as it is by no means 

 easy to trace the burrows far. Males were sought at intervals from 

 August to December, but were not obtained till the latter month. 



9 . Total length up to about 16 mm. Length of carapace 



' Mr. Hirst informs me that the Nilgiri specimens agree with A', monfanvs 

 ill dentition so far as he can judge from the immature type of that species. 



