1901.] 



AUSTRALIAN SPIDERS. 



273 



Ateax robustus Cambr. (Text-fig. 39.) 



Atrax robustus Cambr. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xix. 

 1877, p. 26, pi. vi. fig. 1 ; E. Simon, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. vol. lx. 

 1891, p. 301. 



This rather powerful-looking spider varies in the colour of the 

 cephalothorax, from a rich red-brown to a black-brown. Abdomen 

 yellowish grey to darker grey, with fine dark brown hairs. The front 

 middle eyes stand on raised shiny black rims which make them look 

 larger and nearer together than they really are, and these again 

 are raised on a common protuberance outside of which he the side- 

 eyes and rear middle. The front row only looks in any way pro- 

 curved when seen from right in front. 



Text-fig. 39. 



a' 



Atrax robustus. a. Eyes. b. Tarsal claws. 



There are seven pectinations in a curved row across the superior 

 tarsal claws, the inferior tarsal claw being smooth. 



There are 13 large teeth on the outer margin of the falx-sheath, 

 11 on the inner, and 9 rather large in an intermediate row. 



The metatarsi and tarsi of all legs are thickly bristled and be- 

 spined, but have no real scopula. There are three or four short 

 spines at anterior end of tibia i. and ii., and the same with more in 

 the middle of tibia iii. and iv. 



There are female specimens from Queensland and New South 

 Wales in the British Museum, and from New South Wales in that 

 of Paris, but no male recorded. 



I give the following measurements in millimetres of about the 

 largest. 



Peoc Zool. Soc— 1 901 , Vol. 1 1. No. XVIII. 18 



