42 REV. O. p. CAMBRIDGK ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Feb. 5, 



are two large, somewhat suffused, pale yellowish patches ; the under- 

 side is also paler than the upper ; spinners short, superior pair 

 3-jointed, yellow, tinged with brown, inferior pair small, 1-joiuted, 

 and yellow. 



Examples of this spider, with two of its curious trapdoor nests 

 f jund in the bark of the " Kaffir Boom " tree, were kindly sent to me 

 lately by the Rev. Nendick Abraham. It is nearly allied to, but 

 quite distinct from, Moggridgea dyeri, Cambr. (Ann. & Mag. Nat. 

 Hist., Nov. 1875, p. 317, pi. x.). 



Among other differences, it is a larger paler-coloured spider, the 

 two rows of eyes are much closer together, and the hind lateral eyes 

 are smaller in proportion to the hind central. The denticulations 

 on the maxillse and labium are much less strong, and are not found 

 (as in M. dyeri) beneath the bases of the coxal joints of the first 

 three pairs of legs. The nest resembles in general that of M. dyeri ; 

 it is, however, even better concealed than those of that species, 

 there being no abnormal prominence, and often not the slightest 

 tubular convexity of any kind apparent. In fact I had to search 

 very minutely for ten minutes, and test every part of the pieces of 

 bark sent to me with the point of a needle, to find out the lids of the 

 nests. One of the nests is furnished with a lid at each end ; and 

 from a communication made by Mr. Abraham to Mr. F. Taylor, of 

 Liverpool, I gather that this is also occasionally the case with the 

 nests of Mvggridgea dyeri. I came to the conclusion, from Mr. 

 Abraham's letter to me, that this latter spider was peculiar to the 

 " Kaffir Boom," and the present sj^ecics to the Oak ; but his notes on 

 the two, sent to Mr. Taylor, lead me to suppose that each is found 

 on both trees. The skill and perfection with which the minute 

 lichens are placed upon the tube and its lid, causing them to 

 resemble most exactly the rest of the bark, is indeed wonderful. Of 

 the nests I have yet seen that of M. dyeri is less well concealed 

 than those of M. abrahami. 



Examples both of the spiders and nests of M. dyeri were also sent 

 to me by Mr. Abraham, whose name I have much pleasure in 

 connecting with the new species. 



It is not easy to conjecture the purpose of the lower door. Mr. 

 Abraham suggests that the lower door is made when the spider is 

 young and gaining its experience, as a mode of escape from enemies 

 which might gain access to the upj)er door. He has found that the 

 lower door "is rot generally (if ever) so perfect as the upper door." 

 In the s])ecim.ens before me, however, I can detect no difference 

 between the two as regards perfection. 



Family Eresid^e. 



Genus Stegodyphus, Sim. 

 (Eresus, auctt. in parte.) 

 Stegodyphus gregarius, sp. n. (Plate II, figs. 4, 5.) 

 Adult female. Length 2^-4 lines ; length of cephalothorax in a 



