160 Mr. S. S. Saunders's Description 



XXlll. — Description of a Species of N[ygQ.[e, from Ionia, 

 with its Nest. By Sydney Smith Saunders, Esq. 



[Read 2 September, 1839.] 

 Mygale lonica. 



Thorax subcordiformis, postice depressus. 



Oculi rotundi, anteriores quatuor linea fere rectd, intermedii 



vix retrorsmn, jacentes ; posteriores inter se I'enioti, duplici 



serie semel dispositi ; anteriores duo externi majores, reliqui 



sex magnitudine sabgequales. 

 Mandibulae articulo primo magno subhemisphaerico, dentibus 



plurimis subtus, spinisque antice sex (quorum tres magni) 



armato ; unguibus simplicibus. 

 Pedes hirsuti, posticis longioribus, reliquis longitudine fere sequis. 

 Tarsi obtusi bicuspidati, anteriores quatuor spinis mobilibus 



armati, reliqui vix spinosi : ungulis basi dentatis. 

 Palpi articulis extremis utrinque spinosis. 

 Habitat Insulis Corcyrae et Zacintlii. 

 Long. Corp. 7 — 9 lin. 

 Differt a Mygalis Fodiens, Ccementaria, Carminans, Cellicola, 



et Ar'iana{1) dictis, oculorum dispositione. 

 Confert hdctenus cum M. Sicida ; sed differt eadem pedum arma- 



tura, et mandibularum unguibus simplicibus. 

 In the Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France (vol. ii. 

 part 1), M. Audouin has recorded a series of observations upon 

 the nests of certain mining spiders, and in particular upon those of 

 Mygale fodiens, Walck. 



During a short excursion to Zante, having noticed a number of 

 nests differing somewhat in their construction, and belonging as it 

 would seem to a new species (if not to the M. Ariana, Walck., to 

 which I was at first inclined to refer it), I was induced to take up 

 several for the purpose of examination, which has enabled me to 

 lay before the Society the following details. 



These nests were found close round the roots of the olive trees 

 in a somewhat elevated situation, and were generally observed 

 two or three together about the same tree. The soil was a sort 

 of sandy clay, of a light ochraceous colour, very different from the 

 " terre argileuse d'une rouge de brique," described by M. Au- 

 douin. The upper portion of the nests was also partially raised 



