INSECT ODDITIES. 



265 



this group alone provides for original investigation. The drier details of the 

 morphological structure and technical nomenclature and affinities of the more 

 commonly occurring species have to a considerable extent been already chronicled, 

 notably through the labours of Dr. Ludwig Koch. There is, however, still a 

 preponderating number of undescribed species, while of but few of those already 

 known have any data been placed on record concerning their most interesting 

 life-habits and idiosyncrasies, their individual peculiarities of snare construction, or 

 special and often most singularly shaped receptacles woven for the protection or 

 concealment of their eggs. Following out the lines adopted in Dr. H. C. McCook's 

 magnificent three-volume Monograph of the " Orb-weaving Spiders of the United 

 States," there is undoubtedly open to the talent and energies of an enthusiastic 

 Australian arachnologist an opportunity of producing an equivalent if not an even 

 more voluminous and fascinating treatise. 



The spider figured below from life belongs to the non-orb-weaving family of the 

 HeteropodidEe ; a timber and house-frequenting species familiarly known to Australian 

 settlers by the title of " Tarantula " or, to the less illiterate, as a " Triantelope." 



If. Sarnie-Kent, Photo. 



WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TARANTULA. IsOpoda sp. NATURAL SIZE. 



LL 



