) K* 



Spiders .", g 



History', 1877. T. exasperans has been identified by Simon and Kulczynski 

 with Lycosa {Tarantula) alpigena of the Alps, but I cannot confirm this identifi- 

 cation, not having been able to compare European specimens. 



The usual markings are shown in PI. I, fig. 11. The middle stripe of the 

 cephalothorax has a characteristic form, widening behind the eyes, and narrowing 

 again a little farther back. The hinder half of the stripe, especially in young 

 spiders, continues narrow its whole length, but in other individuals and usually 

 in adult males, it widens again opposite the dorsal groove and is sometimes 

 connected by radiating lines with the light areas at the sides. The abdomen 

 has two orange yellow spots at the front end, and sometimes a little orange 

 colour among the grey farther back. The middle spot branches into four 

 black points, and behind it are two or three black spots of variable size on 

 the middle line. Outside of the median spots are four or five pairs of small, 

 bright, white spots alternating with black, forming two lines converging behind 

 (PI. I, fig. 11). There are great variations from this pattern and one of the Bernard 

 harbour males is marked as in PI. I, fig. 12. Here there is a middle stripe, 

 which in life is probably covered with orange hairs, and from this branches 

 extend to the white spots. The other markings are obscured in the general 

 grey colour. This variety has been seen in specimens from mount Washington. 

 In all varieties the legs are banded with dark and light grey. 



Locality: Bernard harbour, Northwest Territories. Barter island, Alaska, 

 June, 1914. 



Lycosa asivak, n. sp. 



This species is 12 mm. to 14 mm. long. Fourth leg as long as the body. 

 Black with light grey markings, which are indistinct and sometimes absent 

 in the female. In the male there is a grey stripe in the middle of the cephalo- 

 thorax from the eyes backward, and on the abdomen a middle grey mark in 

 front, at the sides of which are light spots which unite behind into several trans- 

 verse markings (PL II, fig. 13). The femora are black, but the other joints 

 of the legs are covered above with short grey hairs mixed with longer black 

 ones. The legs and abdomen are covered with fine black hairs, longer than 

 the diameter of the legs. In the female the dorsal markings are much less 

 distinct and usually form on the abdomen a small middle stripe in front and a 

 series of pairs of small white spots. The legs are somewhat lighter in colour 

 toward the end, but there is no strong contrast between the colour of femuf 

 and tibia. The fine hairs of the legs and abdomen are shorter in the female 

 than in the male. Tl)e epigynum (PI. II, fig. 14). has a middle lobe as wide 

 as long throughout its length, and thickened in the middle. At the base of 

 this lobe are two pits with oblique and slightly curved margins. The immature 

 females show the undeveloped epigynum as in PI. II, fig. 15. The male palpus 

 is much like that of pictilis, the tibia is a little longer than wide, and about 

 the same length as the patella. The tarsus is a little longer than the tibia. 

 The parts of the palpal organ are small and comparatively simple, (PI. II, fiu;. 16) 

 as in pictilis. 



This spider appears to be very common and over a hundred specimens 

 were taken, including two adult males in June at Bernard harbour, Dolphin 

 and Union strait, Northwest Territories, and two others at Camden bay, Alaska, 

 July 4, 1914. The females taken at the same time were all iinmat ure, but 

 adult females were taken later, July 12 and July 19, 1915, at the latter date 

 with their cocoons and eggs. 



According to Mr. Johansen's notes, they hide, especially at the breeding 

 season, in holes in the ground or in the sod which they line with silk. In one 

 case a lemming hole was used for this purpose. They were found eating beetles 

 and other spiders, even of the same species. The accompanying photograph 



'Asivak or arsivuk is an Eskimo name for a spider, with slighl dialectic differences from 

 northwestern Alaska to Coronation gulf. 



Vol. iii— 46957— 2 



