41 4 MR. H. B. HOGG ON AUSTRALASIAN SPIDERS. [DeC. 2, 



7. On the Australasian Spiders o£ the Subfamily 

 Sparassince. By H. R. HoGG, M.A., F.Z.S. 



[Received November 4, 1902.] 

 (Text-figures 85-104.) 



The members of this subfamily are abundant in all tropical 

 and subtropical countries. Their large size and hairy appearance 

 enable them to inspire a sentiment of fear out of all proportion 

 to their really timid nature and defenceless character. This has 

 no doubt acted as a means of pi'otection to them. 



Living originally about the trunks and imder the loose bark 

 of trees, they have adapted themselves readily to the shelter 

 aflbrded by the houses of mankind, and find a congenial habitat 

 under the eaves of most dwelling-houses. In fact, wherever an 

 undisturbed dry and darkish receptacle is available they are sure 

 to be discovered, and where allowed to settle prove valuable 

 assistants in keeping down the numbers of the house-flies — the 

 pest of all hot countries. 



As members of the family Olubionidte, they are furnished with 

 ungual tufts, two well pectinated tarsal claws, scopulse along both 

 tarsi and metatarsi, and have the surface of the maxillse convex, 

 without any median depression. 



The eyes, always eight in number, are disposed in two more or 

 less parallel transverse rows of foui- each, without much variation 

 in size or relative position. 



In Australia the indigenous species have developed a distinctly 

 charactei'istic type of genital organ. In by far the larger number 

 the stylus in the male palp is produced into a flagellum of re- 

 markable length, sometimes more than twice the length of the 

 cephalothorax ; this, for its protection, is curled spirally rotind a 

 specially grooved drum, and this again has been formed by the 

 rolling up of a riband-like elongation of a projection which, in 

 the Heteropoda of a short columnar form only, has had its vise 

 as a feeler. 



The two parts are quite separate and detachable and can be 

 uni'olled. This particular development is unique and, so far as 

 I am aware, entirely confined to the Australian region. The 

 flagellum part of it may be seen more or less developed in other 

 foi'ms such as Pandercetes, Clastes, and many of the Thomisidse, 

 and several earliei- stages of the more perfect form can be seen, 

 as will be described below. 



From their habit of living between the bark and hard surface of 

 trees, neai-ly the whole subfamily has had the position of the legs 

 so modified as to move horizontally, thus enabling its members 

 to shuffle along without raising the joints. They can thus 

 obtain prey and shelter in naiTow interstices where many of 



