1907.] NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN SPIDERS. 819 



had at first no opportunity to ascertain Avhether this lower trap- 

 door led to any other tube or cavity. In reply, however, to 

 questions I have since asked Lieut. Nicholson, I understand that 

 there is a more or less distinct kind of empty chamber, but with- 

 out any silk lining, at the bottom of the tube. Mons. Simon 

 (1. c. supra) does not mention the lower lid. There is here 

 again a chance for a local collector to ascertain with care 

 and patience (such as that shown by the late Mr. Moggridge in 

 his careful study of the Trapdoor Spiders of Southern France) 

 what is the extent of the development and the use of the lower 

 door in the nest of the Lagos Spider. Lieut. Nicholson and a 

 brother officer, Lieut. Walter Stokes, who assisted him, appear 

 to have satisfied themselves that the bottom chamber Avas not 

 used as a " storehouse." I may add that, in company with the 

 nests of Pachylomerus, Lieut. Nicholson found nests (with examples 

 of the Spider) of another Trapdoor species {Nemesia siinonii 

 Cambridge). These appear to occur on the same spots and to be 

 much mixed up with those of the other Spider. Considex-able 

 care therefore would be necessary in conducting the operations 

 and obsei'vations necessary to elucidate the respective economy of 

 the two. 



Fam. Drassid.5:. 

 Subfam. Hemiclcein^e. 

 Genus Platyoides Cambr. 

 Platyoides separata, sp. n. (Plate L. figs. 7-12.) 



Adult female, length 4| lines. 



Cephalothorax and abdomen uniformly flattened ; the foi'mer 

 is of a dark rather bright yellow-brown colour ; the latter on the 

 upper side is of a movise-coloured black above and on the sides, 

 the underside being of a dull greyish white. The clypeus is 

 almost obsolete. The legs, 4, 2, 1, 3, are not very, strong, the 

 three basal joints pale yellow, the rest moi-e or less sufiiised with 

 yellowish brown ; and there is a thin scopula of i-acquet-shaped 

 hairs on the tarsi and part of the metatarsi of the first pair. The 

 coxal and genual joints of the fourth pair are of moderate 

 length, nearly equal together to that of the femoral joint. The 

 cephalothorax is a little broader than long, and broadest behind, 

 truncated before and somewhat truncate behind. 



Eyes small, not greatly unequal ; the hind-central pair smallest; 

 placed in two transverse rows occupying the greater part of the 

 Avidth of the caput ; the anterior row is straight, the posterior 

 longest and has the convexity of its very slight curve directed 

 backwards. The interval between the two central eyes of each 

 row is less than that which separates them from the latei'als. 



Fcdces strong, tumid in form, divergent and porrected. Fang 

 long, not very strong, regularly curved and tapering. Colour 

 similar to that of the cephalothorax. 



