The relative length of the legs is not constant; in one example it was 4, 3, 1, 2, in the other 4, 1, 2, 3, 2 and 3 being very nearly equal. Similar variations are also found in the legs of the female.
In regard to the nest of this species, researches made subsequently to the publication ofHarvesting Ants and Trap-door Spidershave proved it to be of rather a different form from that there represented; thus in the main tube, just before the inner door is reached, there is a descending branch running off from the main tube at the same angle as the ascending branch, but in an opposite direction; in the older and larger nests the descending branch becomes choked with débris; it is more distinct in the nests of the younger spiders, and is always more or less distinctly traceable.
N.B.—In the above details there have been onlyone or two special distinctions observed between the two male examples examined. It should however be noted that in one (the one captured behind a stone wall) the ocular area was slightly narrower in proportion to its length, and the interval between the eyes of each lateral pair rather less.
Habitat.San Remo, Bordighera, Mentone, Cannes, and Hyères.
Nemesia Meridionalis,Plate XVII, fig. B, p. 215.
Syn.Nemesia meridionalis, Costa,Fauna d. Regn. Napl. Arachn., p. 14, Pl. I, figs. 2, 3.
---- —— Simon,Aranéides nouv. ou peu connus du Midi de l' Europe, Mém. Liège, 1873 (separate copy), p. 21.
Adult male, length 63/4lines (14 mm.), female adult, length 101/2lines (22 mm.).
The examination of an adult example of each sex of this spider received from M. Simon, by whom they were found in Corsica, leads me to conclude that we have here the trueN. meridionalis, Costa, as certainly at least as it is possible at present to identify the species by the insufficient description and figures given by this author.
Theeyesappear to be less closely massed together than inN. Manderstjernæ, but in other respects no particularly tangible difference is to be noted; the interval however between the eyes of each lateral pair is perhaps rather greater. Between the male and the female of the present species there is a decided difference in the relative position of the eyes. In the female the fore-centrals are nearer together than each is to the fore-lateral on its side, while in the male, thefore-centrals are wider apart than each is from its fore-lateral. I have also noted a similar difference in regard toN. Manderstjernæ. The fore-centrals are also smaller in the female than in the male.
The two species, although bearing such great general similarity to each other, may be at once distinguished by several very tangible differences. First in regard to themale. ThecephalothoraxofN. meridionalishas the whole caput of an almost uniform dark brown colour, two slender yellow lines beginning, one a little way behind each lateral pair of eyes, and converging rather quickly towards each other, run on nearly parallel, but in close proximity together to the thoracic fovea. The centre of the thorax is also dark brown, the brown portion formed by radiating confluent patches, rather than by distinct lines as inManderstjernæ. The curve of the thoracic fovea is sharp, in fact more in the form of a straight line with the ends bent down.
Thecephalothoraxis of nearly one uniform level and convexity above; the caput being a little more rounded than the thorax; the eye eminence seemed to be rather higher than inN. Manderstjernæ, and theclypeus, which is steepish, is impressed in the middle and exceeds in height half that of the facial space; on the lower margin of theclypeusis a transverse row of several strong prominent bristles. There were no bristles behind the eyes, and no appearance of any having been broken off there (the female, however, has a single longitudinal row on the caput). The lateral and hinder margins of the cephalothorax, however, are, in the male (but not in the female) clothed with black bristles and bristly hairs.
Thepalpiare longer than inManderstjernæ. The radial joints have, at the upper fore extremity of each, five spines,threein front in a transverse line, andtwoimmediately behind them. The palpal bulb is more globular, and the spiny production, which is not very long, springs from it more suddenly, and isstrongly sinuous, its sharp tapering point directed outwards. The strong sinuosity of this part distinguishes it at once both fromN. Manderstjernæand all other known European males with a simple point to the palpal organs.
Thelegsare longish and strong; their relative length 4-1, 3, 2 (male); 4-1, 2, 3 (female); they are furnished with hairs, bristles, and spines. These do not appear to call for special notice, except that each genual joint of those of the third pair has two spines on its outer side in both sexes.
The superior tarsal claws are denticulated, but the denticulations differ in number and strength, not only in the two sexes and in the different legs, but in some instances in the two superior claws of the same leg. The denticulations seemed to be more numerous in the female than in the male.
Theabdomenis elongate oval, and of a straw yellow colour. In themalethe fore part of the upper side is irregularly black brown, followed by an irregular somewhat broken longitudinal central bar, and some broken oblique lines and portions of chevrons. In thefemalethe fore part is less densely blackish, the central longitudinal line is obscure, but the oblique lateral lines are more distinct and less broken, but none are quite united so as to form chevrons, though the two or three nearest to the spinners almost do so.
The upper side is furnished with numerous strong nearly erect black bristles.
Thelabiumhas a row, of bristles only, at its apex.
The markings of the cephalothorax in the female are very nearly like those of that sex inN. Manderstjernæ; the tapering orange yellow band, however, behind the eyes appears to be rather bolder, as in that species this band also is faintly traceable quite to the hinder thoracic margin. The inner corner of the base of the maxillæ, in both sexes, has several minute tooth-like black spines.
The form of the cephalothorax in the female differs from that of the male; in the latter sex (male) it is narrower before and rather rounded behind; in the former sex (female) it is broadest before and more distinctly hollow-truncate behind; the caput is also rounder and more elevated. In the female the tarsi and metatarsi of the two first pairs of legs have close set brush-like hairs beneath; these are wanting in the two hinder pairs, and also almost entirely wanting on the two first pairs in the male.
Various other characters, both peculiar and differential, are noted in regard to this species by M. Simon (l.c.). It is to be regretted that this painstaking observer did not note more exactly the form and type of its nest; from his description of it, however, it appears to be branched, but whether the door is of the wafer or cork type, or whether it has an inner door or not, is not mentioned.
Habitat.Corsica.
Nemesia Congener, sp. n.,Plate XVIII, fig. A, p. 225.
Adult female, length 9 lines (19 mm.).
In general appearance, colours, and markings this spider bears great resemblance toN. cæmentaria. The eyes, however, appeared to be smaller, and the hind-centrals also smaller in proportion to the rest. The pale margins of the cephalothorax are in the present species generally confined to some rather indistinct pale patches.
The central orange band from the eyes to the thoracic fovea is, especially in immature examples, often only a simple tapering line; in others it is larger, and often composed of three converging narrow orange bands, which form, in some examples, a broad central tapering band, marked with two longitudinal dark lines. The thoracic fovea is curved, but not sharply.
Theabdomenis broadish oval, of a dull clay colour, marked with dark brown lines, and markings on the sides and upper side. In some examples these form a longitudinal central series of curved or slightly angular lines; in others but little trace of regular chevrons can be seen.
In the present spider there is also a longitudinal pale yellowish patch on the inner upper margin of the falces near their base; they are furnished with hairs in longitudinal bands, and spines, like others of the genus.
Thelegsare moderately long, strong, and furnished with hairs and bristles, and, sparingly, with spines. The genual joints of the third pair have some spines on the outer side, varying from one to three in different examples. The tarsi and metatarsi of the first and second pairs, as well as the radial and digitaljoints of the palpi, have strong lateral brush-like fringes of close-set sooty black hairs. The superior pair of tarsal claws are denticulated, but not uniformly either in strength, number, or position.
No doubt this will prove a very troublesome spider to distinguish with certainty fromN. cæmentaria, but the almost constant presence of a spine or spines on the outer face of the genual joint of the third pair of legs seems to be a good distinguishing character; in no one example out of nine carefully examined could I detect their absence altogether, while a single spine even onN. cæmentariais rare.
In the present species five examples had three spines on each of these joints; two had two spines on each; one had a single spine on each; another had one on one side, two on the other.
The nest, however, is very characteristic and peculiar. It is of the wafer-lid type, and so cannot, from even the outside, be mistaken for that ofN. cæmentaria, which is of the cork-lid type; it is, moreover, branched below, while that ofN. cæmentariais a single unbranched tube. It has also an inside door, or valve, of very remarkable construction, having two perfect cork-like faces, securely shutting off either the branch, or the main tube just above the branch, at pleasure. By this latter character it is distinguished also from the tube ofN. Manderstjernæ, as well as by the absence of a second short branch or cavity, lately discovered in the nest of this last spider. Examples of this spider were found, not unfrequently, but invariably in such nests as that above described, at Hyères.
The female sex only has yet been met with.
Habitat.Hyères.
Nemesia Suffusa, sp. n.,Plate XVII, fig. A, p. 215.
Immature female, length 71/2lines (151/2mm.).
Although no example was quite adult, this species may readily be distinguished from all others yet known to me, by its more elongated form, particularly the cylindrico-ovate form of the abdomen.
Thecephalothoraxis oval, broadest towards its posterior extremity, where it is rounded, the fore-margin being truncated; the caput is well rounded and convex, and the thorax perhaps more so than in other species, so that when looked at in profile there is a considerable dip or hollow at the thoracic fovea; this fovea forms a slight curve. Except that the lateral margins are rather broadly pale towards the hinder part (though the pale portion is ill-defined), the whole of the cephalothorax is of a uniform dull yellowish-brown colour; the extreme lateral margin is marked by a black line, and in one or two examples there was an indistinct yellowish central longitudinal line from the eyes to the thoracic junction, having a single row of prominent bristles upon it. The whole surface of the cephalothorax is fairly clothed with dusky yellowish-grey adpressed hairs: the ordinary grooves and indentations are well marked.
Theeyesare on the usual eye eminence, which is perhaps rather more elevated than ordinary, and its summit black; their position is ordinary. It may, however, be noticed that the fore-centrals are placed more forward than in most of the other known species; the fore-centrals are aboutequallyseparated from each other, and from the fore-laterals nearest to each respectively; they are also separated from the hind-centralnearest to each, by an interval not differing much from that between each other; the hind-centrals are distinctly oval, or rather somewhat semilunar in form, smallest of the eight (except in one example, when they were almost, if not quite, as large as the fore-centrals), and at their hindermost point very near, but not quite contiguous, to the hind-laterals. The eyes of each lateral pair (of which the hinder is very nearly equal in size to the fore one), are very near, but not quite contiguous, to each other; the interval between them is narrower than that between the corresponding eyes in almost any other yet described species.
Thelegsare neither long nor very strong; their relative length is 4, 1, 2, 3, though between 2 and 3 there is in different examples the same variation observed in other species; sometimes they are equal, and sometimes one, and then the other, very slightly the longest: their colour is pale yellowish, and they are furnished with hairs, bristles, and spines, but the latter are not numerous, and appeared to be both longer and slenderer than usual; the genual joints of the third pair have spines, from one to three on the outer side, for the most part, three; the superior tarsal claws are pectinated (but not uniformly on all the legs) beneath their hinder portion.
Thefalcesare strong, and similar in colour to the cephalothorax, but they do not appear to call for any special remark.
Themaxillæhave a few minute tuberculiform black teeth at their base on the inner side, and, with thelabium(which has no hairs at its apex) andsternum, are similar in colour to the legs.
Theabdomenis of an elongated, or cylindrico-ovateform, of a dull drab-yellowish colour, with a central, longitudinal, irregular, rather chocolate-brown bar on its upper side, and 6 to 7 well-defined lateral oblique slightly curved lines of the same colour and touching the central line; between these lines are some other irregular, but similarly coloured, markings.
The sides are almost immaculate, and the underside quite so; the spinners are ordinary.
About 10 examples (all immature) were found at Montpellier in branched tubes closed at the entrance with a wafer-lid. The branch arises some way below the entrance and runs up to the surface at an acute angle with the main tube; there is no lower door, and thus this tube forms the type of a new form of nest, being branched, with a wafer-lid, but without a lower door.
This species cannot be confused withN. cæmentaria, which is found abundantly in the same locality; both the general form, colours, markings, and nest readily distinguish it from that species.
Habitat.Montpellier.
Nemesia Simoni, sp. n.,Plate XVI, fig. A, p. 211.
Adult female, length rather more than 91/4lines (20 mm.).
This spider is of a proportionally broader and stouter form than others of the genusNemesia, and the cephalothorax (which is entirely glabrous and destitute of adpressed hairs) has the caput more rounded and elevated than in any other species ofNemesiaknown to me, approachingCtenizain these respects.
Thecephalothoraxis oval, truncate, and about equally broad at each end; the ordinary grooves and indentations are strong; besides the groove which indicates its union with the thorax, the caput has an indented or pinched-in appearance towards its hinder part on each side. Except that this was present in all the examples examined (ten) it might have been taken to be accidental.
The colour of the cephalothorax is dark brown tinged with yellow, darkest on the sides of the caput, which is divided longitudinally by a narrow, dull, orange-yellow line, and lightest on the margins towards the hinder part; the thoracic fovea is curved, but more deeply indented and the indentation is wider at each end than in other species, the ends being a little turned back: there is a single longitudinal row of long erect bristles along the central line of the caput, and a few more on the lower margin of the clypeus.
Theeyesform a narrower oblong area than usual, owing chiefly to their small size and to those of each lateral pair being almost contiguous to each other, separated only by an interval equal to that which divides each hind-lateral from the hind-central nearest to it. The hind-centrals are smallest of the eight, and vary in form, being round, semilunar, or roughly wedge-shaped, differing at times in the same example. The eye eminence is less elevated than in most species, and this brings the fore-centrals nearer to the straight line of the fore-laterals; these last are the largest of the eight. The height of the clypeus exceeds half that of the facial space.
Thelegsare short and strong; their relative length4, 1, 3, 2, or 4, 1, 2, 3, or 4, 1, 2-3; they are of a brownish yellow colour, deeper on their fore-sides, furnished with hairs, bristles, and spines, the latter not very numerous nor unusually strong; there are no spines on the outer sides of the genual joints of the third pair; the tarsal claws are longish and strong. Those of the superior pair have but one, two, or three pectinations on their underside; on some of the legs I could not detect any. There seemed to be no more uniformity in the tarsal-claw pectinations in this species than in others. The tarsal and metatarsal joints of the legs of the first pair have a fringe of close-set short blackish hairs on either side, as also have the digital joints of the palpi, these being similar to the legs in colour and armature; the humeral joints are very deep but narrow, being apparently bent and hollowed on their inner sides to allow of meeting well over the falces.
The terminal palpal claw has two teeth towards its base on the underside. I could not ascertain satisfactorily whether this is or not a uniform character in all examples; in one example these denticulations were very plain, but they seemed to be wanting in others.
Thefalcesare very strong and massive, round in their profile, and very roundly prominent near their base on the upper side. They are of a rich deep black-brown colour, glossy, and furnished along their inner margins with black bristles and hairs, and with strong spines at their extremity on the upper side. The fang is strong, and the outer margin of the groove in which it lies when at rest has some strong teeth.
Themaxillæare strong, of normal form, but very convex on their outer surface.
The small tuberculous teeth noticed at the base on the inner side of the maxillæ of all the other species I have examined, were visible (though with difficulty) in this species also.
Thelabiumis broader than it is high, convex on its face, and rounded at the apex; it is (as also are themaxillæandsternum) of the same colour as the legs, and clothed with numerous strong bristly hairs.
Theabdomenis short-oval, and strongly convex above; it is of a dull clay-coloured brown tinged with chocolate, and along the centre of its upper side is a series of six strong angular bars or chevrons of a dark chocolate-brown colour, and pretty distinctly defined, though, when examined closely, broken in parts.
The intervening spaces between the angular bars and the sides have a few irregular markings of a similar colour; and they are connected by a longitudinal central line of the same hue running through their apices.
The abdomen is very sparingly clothed with hairs and fine bristles; the superior pair of spinners are strong; those of the inferior pair very small and short.
Examples of this fine and very distinct spider were found at Bordeaux in simple unbranched tubes, covered with a wafer-lid, running down very deep into the earth, in some cases as much as fifteen inches into an exceedingly hard soil, making it a work of great labour and care to get them out without injury.
This species can scarcely be confused with any other yet known; its short robust form, short legs,more elevated caput, general dark colour, distinct angular bars on the abdomen, and almost contiguous lateral eyes, as well as the form of the nest, will readily distinguish it.
It is with great pleasure that I connect with this spider the name of my most kind friend and brother arachnologist, Monsieur Eugène Simon, to whom I am so greatly indebted for much information and numerous examples of rare spiders.
I must not conclude these descriptions without expressing my sense of obligation to Mr. Moggridge for so kindly allowing me to add them to the far more popular, and more interesting, portion of this volume, in which thehabitsof these spiders are recorded.
Descriptions ofcolour,form, andstructureare but dry details, though very necessary for the determination of species; and in the present case it is very important as well as interesting to be able to conclude with some certainty that differences of type in the tubular nests of the spiders Mr. Moggridge has observed so closely and accurately, are joined to well-marked specific differences obtained from those other characters above mentioned, and which it has been my endeavour to detail as fully and faithfully as possible.
PART I.—HARVESTING ANTS.
Alyssocarpus, seeds of, collected by ants,175Amphisbæna, found in nests of Lauba ants,177André(M. Ernest), on number of species of ants found in Europe,160(note)Arabia, custom in, relative to ants,176Atta, species of, found in Europe,160(note);barbara,158;found in Palestine,165;megacephala,160;structor,158;experiment with,172;found harvesting at Cadenabbia,159Cadenabbia, harvesting ants at,159Camponotussylvatica,178Cicendela, capturing ants,164Coluoceraattæ, found in ants' nests,177Cricket(Gryllusmyrmecophilus), found in ants' nests,178England, do ants harvest in,159(note)Formic acid, experiments with,173Formicaerratica,164;nigra, collecting violet seeds,159(note)Gryllusmyrmecophilus, found in ants' nests,178Hindoos, custom of scattering rice for ants,176India, observations in,175Insectsfound in ants' nests,177Jews, laws treating of rights over ants' stores,165King(Dr.), observations in India,175Lizardscapturing ants,162Misna, allusion to harvesting ants in,165Montpellier, harvesting ants at,160Nests, quantity of seeds contained in,170Palestine, harvesting ants in,165Pheidolemegacephala,160Pteroclesexustus, feeding on seeds collected by ants,175Robineating ants,163(note)Seed-storesof ants, Jewish laws about,165Seeds, intervention of ants necessary to prevent germination of,172;non-germination of in granaries,171Wakefield(Mr.), on ants collecting violet seeds,159(note)
PART II.—TRAP-DOOR SPIDERS.
Antsform a large part of food of trap-door spiders,237Atypusbleodonticus(Sim.),183(note);piceus(Sulzer), nests of,182-3,248;species of in England,181,185Australia, nest of wafer type from,217Bates(Mr. H. W.), on the nest ofTheraphosa Blondii,188Beetle(ChrysomelaBanksii) rejected by trap-door spider,241Blackwall(Mr. J.), on the poison of spiders,201Bordeaux, new type of nest at,211Brown(Mr. Joshua), discovery ofAtypusin England,185California, trap-door spider from,198-9;habits of in captivity,203, &c.;indifference to sounds,206Captive spiders, habits of,203,218,242-6Caterpillar(larva ofCuculliaverbasci), eaten by trap-door spider,239Cell and tubemade byN. Eleanora,218;hygrometricity of,220Chrysomela Banksii, distasteful to trap-door spider,241Cork nest,193;structure of door of,193Ctenizacalifornica(Camb.),198,202,248;description of,260;eggs laid by,203;habits of in captivity,203, &c.;indifference to sounds,206;mode of excavating,208;fodiens(Walck.),195,248,259;ionica,210;Moggridgii(Camb.),196;description of,254;habits of in captivity,243,246Cuculliaverbasci, larva of, eaten by trap-door spider,239Cyrtaucheniuselongatus(Sim.), nest of,189,248Diagramsrepresenting different types of nest,193Earwig(Forficula) eaten by trap-door spiders,238Eggs ofCtenizacalifornica,203Enemies of spiders,200,205Enlargement of nests,245Excavationof trap-door nests,208,243-4Food of trap-door spiders,237-9,241;mode of procuring,238Funnel typeof nest, constructed byCyrtauchenius elongatus,189Geographical distribution,247-9,250Hyèresdouble-door, branched wafer type,223Idioctishelva(L. Koch), nest of,217Koch(Dr. L.), on nest ofIdioctis helvafrom Australia,217Lanzwert(Dr.), on trap-door spiders in California,199Latreille(P. A.), on the nest ofLycosatarentula,236Lycosatarentula, nests of at Cannes,233;nests closed in the winter,235Montpellier,Nemesiacæmentariaat,196,198;N. suffusaat,215Nemesiacæmentaria(Latr.),195-6,249;description of,264;congener(Camb.),224,249;description of,292;dubia(Camb.), description of,280;Eleanora(Camb.),218,249,272;incerta(Camb.), description of,276;Manderstjernæ(Auss.),226,249;description of,283;meridionalis(Costa),227,250;description of,289;Moggridgii(Camb.),197-8,249;description of,273;Simoni(Camb.),211,249;description of,297;suffusa(Camb.),215,249;description of,295Nests enlarged, not deserted,245Nocturnal habitsof trap-door spiders,240Oniscus(wood-louse) eaten by trap-door spider,241Poisonof spiders,200-1Simon(M. E.), onAtypus piceus(Sulzer),182;onCyrtaucheniuselongatus(Sim.),189Tarantula,233,235Theraphosa Blondii, nest of,188Wafer nestsof single-door unbranched type,193(note),211;of single-door branched type,193,214;of double-door unbranched type,193,218;of Hyères double-door branched type,193,223;of double-door branched cavity type,193,228Wood-louse(Oniscus) eaten by trap-door spider,241Wormsthe food ofAtypus,182,186
THE END.
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