Notes on the architecture, nesting-habits, and life-histories of Australian Araneidae, based on specimens in the Australian Museum
Abstract
The Ecribellatae: Haplogynae. The Ecribellatae have been divided into two sub-sections or groups, viz., the Haplogynae and Entelegynae, and of these the former contains six families: Sicariidae, Leptonetidae, Oonopidae, Hadrotarsidae, Dysderidae, and Caponiidae. In Australia, the Haplogynae are represented by the first, third, fourth, and fifth families here enumerated. None of these spiders is provided with a cribellum or calamistrum, and the majority have only six eyes. In external appearance, and simplicity, their sexual organs closely approach the Theraphosae. The genital orifice is situated in both sexes in the epigastric fold, between the pulmonary sacs, and is a simple transverse slit. In the male the last joint of the maxillary palpi is more or less cylindrical, and slightly modified in form, and differs but little in general appearance from that of the female; the copulatory organ consists of a cylindrical or globose lobe, with a more or less prolonged extension, and this may be either straight, curved, or twisted, and acts as the conductor of the styli, the orifice of which is situated at the tip. Family Sicaridie. This family is divided by Simon into six sub-families, only one of which Scytodinae is represented in Australia. One genus only, Scytodes, Latr., is associated by E. Simon with this sub-family,
