Uequhaet.— On the Spiders of Neiv Zealand. 41 



they are furnished only with fine erect hairs. The superior tarsal claws of 

 the first pair differ from each other in size, the outer claw being the largest, 

 and are provided with two teeth of unequal size pointing obliquely forwards ; 

 the inferior claw is as large as the greater of the superior claws, more 

 powerful, and furnished with a long pointed tooth. 



The palpi are slender, darker than the legs ; the claw is long, fine, 

 slightly curved, with, two teeth of different size, pointing obliquely forwards. 



The falces are long, vertical, tapering, divergent at the extremities, 

 brownish. 



The maxilla are oblong, sides nearly straight, roundly-pointed at the 

 extremities, parallel. Labium short and broad ; has the dark brown shade 

 of the raaxillaa. 



The sternum, is somewhat cordate, convex, black. 



The abdomen is large, conical ; the dorsal portion is of a dull silver, 

 with faint pinkish reflections ; from the petiolum a black toothed band 

 faintly margined with yellow ascends to the apex, and converges from the 

 thoracic junction to the spinnerets ; the sides and ventral surface are black. 

 The spinners are surrounded by a sheath-like band, formed by a deep 

 circular groove ; the outer margin of this groove, viewed laterally, forms a 

 protuberance on which there is a circular fovea ; between this depression 

 and the vulva, on the side of the abdomen there is a larger one of an oval 

 form. The vulva consists of a somewhat square, moderately raised black 

 protuberance, to which is attached a broad crimson process, directed back- 

 wards. 



The male is rather shorter than the female and resembles her in 

 colour and markings ; the cephaloihorax is comparatively narrower, and the 

 ocular area more prominent; projecting from the clypeus is a long, strong 

 dark brown process, its tumid conical point has hairs directed backwards. 

 The humeral and radial joints of the palpi are long and resemble the legs 

 in colour ; the digital joint is unusually developed, convex and moderately 

 hairy externally, black ; concave within, brownish ; the palpal organs are 

 complex, the most remarkable are two strong processes directed downwards. 

 The abdomen is similar in form to that of the female, but it is smaller, 

 slopes backwards, exposing the petiolum. These interesting little spiders 

 are quasi-parasitic on the webs of the larger Epeirids, they are also to be 

 found under the eaves of low buildings on the webs of the Theridiida, etc., 

 When resting on webs the abdomen is always below, the legs being drawn 

 together and extended upwards. The females commence constructing 

 their cocoons towards the end of December ; most of the young are hatched 

 in March. Occasionally cocoons are fabricated as late as April ; the female 

 commences this work by spinning a short strong horizontal line, to which 



