122 I^Ir. C. J. Witli 071 Chclonefclu 



tibia 1-4 (0-/); hand 1-12 (0775), liciglit 0-730; finger 

 0-870 ram. 



Yoinig animal. — T have not had any opportunity of ex- 

 amining young animals, but only cast skins. The abdominal 

 tergites of these had neither raised bauds nor depressed 

 areas. The fourth pair of coxae is neither similar to those of 

 female nor male. 



Locality, Material. — I have examined five females and two 

 males, besides a number of silk-cocoons containing animals 

 in process of moulting or cast skins. They were all taken 

 in Natal from the interior of bee-hives. 



Remarks. — This animal, in spite of some peculiarities, is 

 most naturally referred to a group of species which are nearly 

 related to Ch. cancroides, L. The following characters of 

 the males are common to these species : — lateral tergal 

 keels, shape of genital area with ram's-horn-shaped organs, 

 shape of fourth coxae with coxal sac, and bifurcated terminal 

 tarsal hair. It is remarkable for the shape and granulations 

 of body and palps, the broad coxaj of the female, and the 

 shape of the posterior genital plate of the male. 



Ecdysis. — Besides the animals which have been described, 

 I have examined seven slightly curved circular silk-cocoons, 

 Avhich Avere sometimes placed two together. As they all 

 contained animals in course of moulting, or cast skins, we 

 must conclude that their purpose is to protect the animal 

 during the dangerous process of ecdysis. These nidi show 

 on microscopic examination a surprising structure, for the 

 diffx3rent threads are not independent and free, but are more 

 or less fused, so that a complicated system or meshwork 

 of thinner and thicker threads is formed (PI. VIII. fig. 2 h). 

 The density of the meshwork varies considerably in the 

 different cocoons, and is not the same everywhere in each 

 cocoon. The area between the threads is sometimes many 

 times, sometimes scarcely broader than the threads. This 

 structure is difficult to explain ; the newly- formed threads 

 have perhaps fused before drying. 



I found only a single cast skin (palps and legs not attached) 

 in a cocoon without any animal. Tliis skin was closed, with 

 the exception of a very wide aperture in front ; this opening 

 was formed by the bursting of the membrane between the 

 head and first tergite dorsally, and anteunai and maxillie 

 ventrally. The articular membrane is strongly dilated 

 just behind this opening. The tergites arc separated from 

 the eephalothorax l)y a deep groove, and so strongly curved 

 (downwards) that the last abdominal tergites almost reach 

 and cover the coxic. The sternitcs are placed so closely to 



