220 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
palpi. At the end of an hour the change had been effected. The spider 
lay upon her back, beside the perfect skin, resting from the severe 
exertion. 
Some idea of the perfect condition of the skin may be obtained from 
plates 6, 7, which is a reproduction from photographs of the dorsal and 
ventral surface of the exuvia. The dorsal aspect (see plate 6) shows very 
plainly the coxal cavities (c) and the line of rupture of the cephalo- 
thoracic dorsal piece (a), which was laid back and to one side in order 
to give a fuller representation of other parts. ‘The more delicate abdomi- 
nal covering (¢) was torn a little during the process of molting and more 
when the skin was mounted. ‘The position of the eyes (4) is shown very 
nicely on the dorsal covering of the cephalo-thorax. The poison fangs 
can be seen distinctly between the palpi (f) in the view of the ventral 
aspect (see plate 7). Their shiny black surface reflected so much light 
that they appear nearly white. 
This tarantula was unusually large before she molted and is now of still 
greater size. An idea of the increase in size attendant upon molting 
may be gained by comparing the dimensions of the dorsal piece of 
the skin shed about the latter part of 1896 when under the care of 
Dr Bigelow and the one cast in July. The first measures 1 inch and the 
second measures 1} inches in length. Therefore, the present dorsal 
piece will probably be proportionately larger when fully expanded. 
