282 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Sternum a long oval, ratlier 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 striss ; either uniform grey in colour, from having 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 j under surface black ; vulval 

 opening simple. 



The habits of this remarkable spider might be predicted from its form. 

 It 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 tr^s. 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. 



Maxillae long, divergent, inner border very convex ; a rather acute angle 

 at junction of anterior and outer borders. Lip long oval, truncated anteriorly. 

 A.11 dark mahogany brown. 



