Trap-door Spider from South Africa. 321 



and from many of them there issues a single long, prominent, 

 tapering bristle ; the rugulosities of the surface are marked by- 

 being paler than the rest, but they do not present any definite 

 pattern : the spinners are four in number ; those of the supe- 

 rior pair are strong but very short, especially the second and 

 third joints, which are but just perceptible ; those of the in- 

 ferior pair are small, tapering, one-jointed, and near together : 

 the spiracular plates are of a pale brownish yellow colour ; 

 and the underside of the abdomen is of a paler hue than the 

 upperside. 



A single example of this very distinct spider, accompanied 

 by several nests, was received (through the entomological 

 editor of the ' Field ' newspaper) from South Africa. 



The nest is a tubular one, formed in the crevices and ru- 

 gulosities of tlis bark of the oak tree ; it scarcely exceeds 

 an inch and a half in length ; and it is closed externally by 

 a hinged lid, of about 4-5 lines diameter. The exposed 

 surface of the tube, as well as the lid, is covered with small 

 particles of outer bark, and thus exactly resembles the bark 

 itself. The lid is peculiar in combining both the separate types 

 observed in the trap-door nests of Europe, and described in 

 ' Harvesting Ants and Trap-door Spiders ' by the late Mr. 

 Moggridge — that is, the cork and wafer types ; it has its 

 central portion thicker than the rest ; this part shuts into 

 the circular entrance of the tube ; and its thinner rim closes 

 over the edge, entirely concealing the nest. The form of the 

 lid is round or sometimes slightly oval ; and it seems to be 

 placed at the upper end of the tube — i. e. the tube running 

 downwards* in the bark. This, however, is not certain, since 

 there was nothing in the detached pieces of bark received to 

 show conclusively in what direction they grew ; so it is possible 

 that the tube may run upwards : this latter would perhaps 

 better insure the keeping close of the lid, since the opening 

 of the tube is oblique, and the lid when closed lies very nearly 

 in the same plane as the surrounding level of the bark. Direct 

 evidence, however, is wanted upon this point. 



I have taken the liberty to connect the name of its discoverer 

 (Dr. Dyer, of Uitenhage, South Africa) with this spider, the 

 finding of which must be hailed as an important addition to 

 our knowledge of trap-door spiders. Hitherto all known 

 spiders, of the trapdoor-forming habit, have their tubes made 

 in holes in the earth ; and (no doubt to assist in excavating 



* In a notice of this spider in the ' Field,' August. 28, 1875, it is stated 

 that the tube appears to run upwards ; but subsequent examination of the 

 pieces of bark &c. leads me now to question this. 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.4. Vol. xvi. 23 



