282 Transactions.— Zoology. 
Sternum a long oval, rather sunk between the coxal joints of the legs. 
Abdomen flat, a long oval twice as long as cephalo-thorax, with two longi- 
tudinal creases or striæ; either uniform grey in colour, from haying a thick 
coat of short grey hairs on a blackish surface, or denuded in places of hair so 
as to leave a black pattern consisting of a broad black band, extending half the 
length of the abdomen and terminating in three black lines, extending to the 
spinnerets. Towards the spinnerets on either side a couple of oblique black 
marks tending forwards towards the middle line ; under surface black ; vulval 
opening simple. 
The habits of-this remarkable spider might be predicted from its form. 
Tt inhabits chinks and crevices, into which it sidles with great dexterity when 
alarmed. Its singular flattened form, as if it had been trodden underfoot, and 
its small inconspicuous falces, peculiarly adapt it to its favourite habitat. I 
have never seen it apart from palings or human habitations, never in the 
bush nor away from the neighbourhood of the town, although one would 
expect to find it like Delena, beneath the detached bark of trees. I have, 
however, never seen it in this situation. 
Found on palings in and around Christchurch, 
2. SALTICUS MINAX, n.s. Fig. 2. 
Length, -5 inch. 
Cephalo-thorax oval, truncated anteriorly, two-thirds as long again as 
broad, -2 in. long ; lateral borders convex, a slight depression behind caput ; 
normal grooves rather obscure. 
Colour rich blackish brown, becoming quite black at the lateral borders, 
an obscure mahogany-coloured stripe down the centre, surface polished. 
Eyes, three rows ; middle pair of anterior row far the largest ; middle 
pair decidedly nearer to anterior laterals than to posterior pair. 
Legs, 1, 4, 2, 3; anterior legs very robust and powerful, black, with strong 
spines on trochanteric libral and metatarsal joints, clothed with hairs ; tarsus 
red brown ; three posterior pairs comparatively slight and weak, dark honey 
colour ; all the tarsi with a blackish scopula ; length of anterior leg four-fifths 
of an inch in female, half an inch in male. 
Palpi not very large, rather long; palpal organ tumid, a short very 
slightly curved filament at extremity ; a small simple spine on outer side of 
radial joint, also a few long curved hairs. 
Falces tumid, robust; black, with a strong brown black claw. In the 
male an abrupt projecting process about the middle of the fang. A few strong 
teeth on inner aspect of falx. 
Maxille long, divergent, inner border very convex ; a rather acute angle 
at junction of anterior and outer borders. Lip long oval, truncated anteriorly. 
All dark mahogany brown. 
