57 



hours in consequence of the spider bite." — (Hochstetter's New Zealand, p. 440.) 

 I am sorry that I have not been able to obtain the volume of the Linnean 

 Society's Transactions, containing Dr. Ralph's comraTinication. 



These spiders are tolerably numerous in the North, but rai-e in this Island. 

 Dr. Ilaast, hoM^ever, informs me that, according to the Maoris, Katipos have 

 lately made their appearance in the sand-hills near Raugiora. On Friday last 

 I received from Mr. Nottidge a spider which he found beneath a stone in the 

 Maori Pa at Woodend, and vi^hich corresponded to the description of the 

 Katipo, and on comparing it with a dried specimen given to Mr. Fereday as a 

 Katipo, I found it to be of the same species. I have had no opportunity of 

 testing its venomous properties, but I shall show in the sequel that there is 

 very good reason for believing that it is truly poisonous. I am not aware that 

 it has been scientifically described, or that it has received any specific name. 



The following is a description of its affinities and characteristics :— 



Fam. — Theridiid^. Gen. — Latrodectus. 



Provisional specific appellation. — Latrodectus Katipo. 



Adult female. — -Length of body J-inch. Cephalothorax, broad posteriorly, 

 constricted and somewhat produced anteriorly, flattened ; caput, elevated and 

 well defined, normal grooves fairly indicated ; a transverse depression behind 

 the caput ; colour, a glossy black. Eyes, eight in numbei', tolerably equal in 

 size, the anterior middle pair being slightly the smallest, arranged in two 

 ti'ansverse rows of four each towards the anterior aspect of the elevated caput, 

 very slightly curved forwards ; eyes of anterior row distributed at equal 

 distances, middle pair situated on a common projection directed anteriorly ; 

 external eyes situated on slight eminences directed downwards and outwards, 

 posterior row more widely distributed than anterior row, at equal distances ; 

 middle pair sessile directed upwards and slightly outwards ; extei^nal eyes on 

 eminences directed outwards and slightly backwards ; clypeus as deep as the 

 width of the anterior row, divided by a transverse sulcus a little below the 

 anterior eyes ; lower division of clypeus tumid with a slight vertical median 

 depression ; the eyes shine with a pearly lustre, so that the posterior middle 

 pair are plainly visible without magnification. Legs tolerably robust, of 

 moderate length, the first pair are the longest, then the foui-th, the third pair 

 are the shortest but do not diflier greatly from the second pair in length ; 

 colour black, the tarsus and metatarsus reddish, clothed with fine blackish hairs, 

 especially the two posteiior pairs ; three claws, two of them pectinated. 

 Palpi of moderate length, black and hairy like the legs, terminated by a 

 single pectinated claw. Labium considerably broader than high, the free 

 border forming nearly a continuous curve, slightly flattened anteriorly, 

 Maxillee moderately long, much inclined on the lip, convex transversely, inner 



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