191 



BESCBIPTION OF A NEW CAVE-INHABITING 

 SPIDER, TOGETHER WITH NOTES ON MAMMA- 

 LIAN REMAINS FROM A RECENTLY DISCOVERED 

 CAVE IN THE CHUDLEIGH DISTRICT, 

 By Edmund T. Higgins, M.R.C.S,, Eng., and William 

 F. Petterd, C.M.Z.S. 

 [Bead lOth July, 1883.] 

 Theridion Troglodytes ^ & 9. 

 Cave-inhahiting Theridion. 



Ceplialo-thonix liorny brown, with a, longitudinal central 

 depression ; sternum ovate, and of the same colour, margined 

 with a few scattered dark hairs, which become darker towards 

 the mandibles. Caput somewhat prominent. Maxillae large 

 and stout, dark brown, almost black, with a strong incurved 

 hook. Palpi long dark brown. Abdomen ovately elongate, 

 soft, ashy brown, shading to almost black, at the posterior 

 extremity, clothed with short thickly set hair. Legs slender, 

 very tapering towards the claws, of a reddish horny brown 

 colour, becoming darker towards the tarsus, sj^arsely covered 

 with short black hairs and spines. In a mutilated specimen 

 the legs were of green tint. 



Total length from claAV of anterior to claw of posterior 

 leg : — o ^h inches. 9 5g inches. 



" in. Female... 3i in. 



11 11 •••^■^ 11 



.21 



Length of abdomen X inch 



Width „ , i „ 



Length of palpi k „ 



The specimens were obtained from a recently discovered 

 cave in the Chudlcigh district on the property of Mr. 

 Peckitt, who most liberally allowed Mr. Frederick Henry, of 

 Launceston, to select, for our examination, specimens, not 

 only of the Arachnids but also of the Mammalian remains 

 deposited in the fissures of the rock and embedded in the 

 earthy floor of the cave. Mr. Henry informs us that the 

 Arachnidoc were by no means plentiful (probably owing to 

 the difficulty of distinguishing them, even with the aid of a 

 brilliant light, in the intense darkness of the cave). The 

 male was found on a stalactite, and the female on her 

 globular nest, which hung from the roof, by a comparatively 

 slender thread. The nest, which was about the size of a 

 pigeon's egg, and contained a large number of young, as 



