Tarantulidse in the British Museum. 297 



Supplementary Note on the Identity of 

 Tarantula reniformis {Linn.). 



Whilst the proof-sheets of this paper were in ray hands 

 for correction I quite unexpectedly received from Mr. G. A. 

 Barber, the Superintendent of Agriculture of the Leeward 

 Islands, a couple of specimens of a Tarantula from Antigua. 

 These specimens prove to belong to the same species as those 

 which I have spoken of, both in this paper and in Journ, 

 Linn. Soc, Zool. vol. xxiv., as T. Pallasii (Blancliard). 

 But the chief point of interest connected with the acquisition 

 of examples from Antigua in particular lies in the fact, which 

 I have more than once insisted upon, that Linngeus's descrip- 

 tion of Phalangium reniforme, the type species of the genus 

 Tarantula, was based upon a figure of one of these animals 

 that came from the island in question. Of course it is not 

 possible to assert positively that Browne's figure is certainly a 

 representation of a specimen belonging to the same species as 

 those that Mr. Barber has just obtained ; but the probability 

 that it is so is undeniably great, and is enhanced by the fact 

 that the available information respecting the size and colour 

 of the original example agrees with what is known of these 

 characters in T. Pallasii. It is consequently scarcely an 

 exaggeration to say that we are now almost as sure of the 

 identity of T. reniformis as we are of the identity of any 

 other species established by Linn^us. And since we cannot 

 reasonably hope ever to get nearer the truth of the matter 

 than we are at present, every one will, I think, recognize the 

 expediency of regarding these Antiguan specimens procured 

 by Mr. Barber as being in reality referable to T. reniformis. 

 If this conclusion be accepted, the known synonymy of the 

 species will stand as follows : — 



Phalangium reniforme, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. x. p. 619 (based upon fig. 3, 



pi. xli. of Browne's ' History of Jamaica'). 

 Tarantula reniforme, Fabr. Ent. Syst. ii. p. 432. 

 Phrynus Pallasii, Blanchard, Organisation du Regne Animal, Aracli- 



nides, pi. xv. p. 170, pi. x. 

 Tarantula Pallasii, Pocock, Jom-n. Linn. Soc, Zool. xxiv. p. 533, pi. xl. 



fig. 3. 



The known distribution of the species is Antigua, Mont- 

 serrat, and Martinique. 



In conclusion, I wish to express my great indebtedness to 

 Mr. C. A. Barber for his spontaneous act of kindness in 

 sending to the British Museum the specimens of the species, 

 which he recognized as a desideratum for the National 

 Collection. 



