234 Dr. W. Rae Sherriffs on 



Locality. Dolosbage, Ceylon (3000 feet). 



In no case has tlie web of a Leucauge any stabiliinentum. 



L. celebesiana is by far the commonest species. 



36. I have also specimens of a small, beautifully silvery 

 Leucauge. Both the $ and ? were taken together from the 

 centre of a small orb-web on the eaves of an outhouse. 

 The ? has the abdomen dorsally beautifully marked in 

 silver with a median line of chocolate-brown marks. <£ 

 much more slender and not so silvery. 



Locality. Dolosbage, Ceylon ; Coonoor, Nilgiris. I have 

 not met with this species on the plains. 



Nephila (Leach), 1815. 

 37. Nephila (Nephilengys) malabarensis (Walck.). 



Webs big and very irregular. Spider remains in a corner 

 of the window in a tubular retreat of the web, resting here 

 inverted during the day. Two varieties found, one much 

 darker than the other in colour and very closely resembling 

 N. cruentatus (Fabr.) from Johannesburg. 



The compact egg-mass measures 19 X 11 x 19 mm. and is 

 roughly egg-shaped. It shows very clearly through the 

 loosely made outer wrapper of strong fibres. Total size of 

 the fibrous cocoon is 30x16 mm. at greatest diameters. 

 Number of eggs enclosed was 618, and the whole cocoon was 

 attached to a withered leaf which had blown on to the web, 

 which was on the outside of the bungalow window well up to 

 the top of the glass panes. 



Argyrodes fisslfrons was found commensal on this web. 

 These small red and white spiders with black legs greatly 

 resemble the tiny males of N. malabarensis in size, shape, and 

 colour, and probably benefit thereby. Many long, slender, 

 black Cyclosa sp. were on their own webs close to the big one 

 of JS T . malabarensis, while Uloborus geniculatus was also 

 present on its own webs in the corners of the windows close 

 to the big web. 



Locality. Dolosbage and Peradeniya Gardens, Ceylon. 



38. NepMla maculata (Fabr.). 



Got on its large orb-web on the roof of the verandah. A 

 large, very handsome spider, but not so strikingly coloured as 

 iV. malabarensis. 



Locality. Dolosbage, Ceylon. 



The webs of Nephila have no stabiliinentum present. 



