Cymbium of male pedipalp with strongly developed apophysis. Tracheal spiracle present; six spinnerets; colulus absent.

Text-fig. 3.—Figs. 20-21—Zearchaea fiordensis n. sp. Fig. 20—Retrolateral view of the male pedipalp. Fig. 21—Prolateral view of the male pedipalp. Figs. 22-23—Zearchaea clypeata Wilton. Fig. 22, retrolateral view of the male pedipalp, Fig. 23, prolateral view of the male pedipalp. Fig. 24—Pararchaea rubra (Forster). Retrolateral view of the male pedipalp. Figs. 25-26—Pararchaea alba n.gen. n. sp. Fig. 25—Prolateral view of the male pedipalp. Fig. 26—Retrolateral view of the male pedipalp.

Pararchaea shows some affinity with the South American genus Mecysmauchenius in the shape of the carapace, the presence of an apophysis on the cymbium, the structure of the chelicera and the development of the epigynum, but is separated from it by the presence of eight eyes and six spinnerets as compared with the six eyes and two spinnerets which are characteristic for Mecysmauchenius. When compared with the remaining two genera known from New Zealand it is more closely related to Zearchaea than Holarchaea, but may be separated from both of these genera by the much greater distance between the median pairs of eyes, the structure of the chelicerae, the relatively short and stout legs, and the presence of a tarsal drum.

Two new species, one from New Zealand and one from Australia, are described below, and Zearchaea rubra Forster is transferred to this genus. The close relationship shown between the Australian species P. binnaburra and P. alba is of great interest in that it provides yet another indication of the

close affinity of a section of the Australian cryptozoic fauna with that of New Zealand.

Pararchaea alba n.sp. Figs. 1-4, 16-19, 25-26.

Colour. Cephalothorax and appendages pale-brown. Abdomen creamy white, but the small plates at the base of each seta and the muscle attachments are palebrown.

Carapace (Fig. 2) Wider than high in the ratio of 6:5; when viewed from the side the ocular area is seen to be gently rounded, but the dorsal surface is almost flat, rounded posteriorly before sloping down steeply posteriorly. The posterior slope is slightly indented, but not sufficiently to form a “neck”. The surface of the carapace, particularly the posterior and lateral surface, is coriaceous. A number of small, erect setae are present on the dorsal surface, but absent elsewhere.

Eyes (Fig. 2). Relatively small, ratio of Ame:Ale:Pme:Ple = 4:8:9: 8. The eye group extends over almost the entire width of the carapace in this region. The Ame. are each surrounded by a ring of black pigment which meets in the mid-line. Ame black, remainder pearly-white.

Ame separated from each other by 14/4 and from the Ale by 22/4 of the diameter of an Ame Ale and Ple are contiguous. Pme separated from each other by 34/4 and from the Ple by 12/4 of the diameter of an Ame. Pme separated from the Ame by a distance equal to 18/4 of the diameter of an Ame. The median ocular quadrangle is wider behind than it is in front in the proportion of 26:11 and longer than its posterior width in the proportion of 31:52. The clypeus is broad, narrowing to a blunt median point, height equal to two and a-half times the diameter of an Ame.

Chelicerae (Fig.16). Stout, slightly more than twice as long as its greatest width. Promargin with three strong, curved, rod-like teeth; retromargin with seven similar but smaller teeth. There is a thin, transparent, erect lamella extending down about two-thirds of the ventral surface. Prolateral surface with from 12-14 strong smooth setae and a group of small serrated setae. The fangs

are relatively short and curved. There are well developed “stridulating ridges” on the retrolateral surface.

Maxilla. Sub-rectangular, directed across the labium, longer than the width at the base in the ratio of 5:3, with a thick distal scopula. Serrula present.

Labium. Almost three times as wide as long, indented apically where there is a thin scopula.

Sternum. Coriaceous, slightly convex, scutiform with lateral margins indented opposite the pedal coxae. Longer than wide in the ratio of 9:8, bluntly rounded posteriorly between the fourth pair of coxae, which are separated by a distance which is equal to slightly more than their width.

Legs. 4.1.2 3. Relatively stout, without spines, but clothed with fine hairs which are generally smooth but tend to be serrated on the metatarsi and tarsi. Legs 1-3 with three trichobothria on the tibiae and one on the metatarsi: leg 4 with four on the tibia and one on the metatarsus. Tarsi stout, tapering distally, each with a “drum” on the dorsal surface immediately before the mid-point. Three tarsal claws, superior homogeneous with a few small teeth, inferior with a single ventral tooth. There is a row of four peg-like spines on the retrolateral surface of the femur of leg 1 but there appears to be no trace of the corresponding stridulating ridges on the prolateral surface of femur 2 as described below for binnaburra.

Palps (Figs. 25-26). Patell and tibia smooth, without apophyses. Tibia with a single trichobothrium on the mid-dorsal surface. Cymbium with a prominent process extending down from the retrolateral surface as shown in Fig. 26, and with a prominent “drum” on the sub-distal surface. Genital bulb relatively complex as shown in Fig. 25.

Abdomen. Ovoid, clothed with short, smooth setae, each of which rises from a small sclerotic plate. There are two further pairs of larger sclerotic plates on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces where abdominal museles are attached. The epigynal area is covered by a sclerotic plate which extends dorsally to enclose the petiolus. Six spinnerets, median and posterior pairs small, colulus absent The spinnerets are enclosed by a sclerotic ring in some specimens but in others it is reduced to a small area in front of the spinnerets on the ventral surface where the spiracle opens.

The female is very similar to the male in general appearance and structure. Only the following points need mention. The length of the palp is equal to approximately one and a-half times the length of the femur of the first leg.

A single trichobothrium on the tibia, tarsus with “drum” but lacking a claw. (Fig. 18.) Chelicerae without stridulating ridges. Epigynum as shown in Figs. 3,4.

Types. Holotype male (C.M.A. 1070), Allotype female (C.m.A. 1071), two male, six female paratypes (C.M.A. 1072, D.M. 2/1017, and American Museum of Natural History, New York), Lake Te Au, Esk Valley, beyond the South Fiord of Te Anau, ex moss, 12–14 January, 1953, R. R. Forster. Lake Manapouri, ex moss, January 23, 1951, R. R. Forster, 1 male, 1 female (C.M A. 1067).

Records. Lake Marion, Kiwi Valley, near Lewis Pass, ex moss. November 14, 1949, R. R. Forster, 1 female (C.M.A. 1065); Mount Grey, Canterbury, ex moss, March 27, 1953, R. R. Forster, 1 female (C.M.A. 1066); Moana, Westland, ex moss, September 3, 1951, H. B. Wisely, 1 female (C.M.A. 1068).

Pararchaea binnaburra n.sp. Figs. 6–9, 13–15.

Colour. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae and legs dark-brown. Abdomen creamywhite, with small brown selerites at the base of the hairs.

Carapace (Fig. 6). The eyes occupy almost the entire width of the carapace in that region. When viewed from the side the carapace is seen to slope gently back from the eyes to reach its greatest height on the posterior margin before sloping steeply down. The posterior surface of the carapace is slightly indented but not sufficiently to form a “neck”. The entire surface is coriaceous, with small hairs on the dorsal surface.

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Eyes (Fig. 9). The ratio of Ame.Ale:Pme. Ple = 5:6:11:6. The Ame are whitish and are enclosed by an oval black area which does not have the appearance of two discrete areas as in alba. The Ame are separated from each other by a distance equal to ⅘ of their diameter and from the Ale by a distance equal to their width. The lateral eyes are contiguous. The Ple are separated from the Pme by a distance equal to 6/5 of the diameter of an Ame. The Pme are separated from each other by 11/5 and from the Ame by ⅗ of the diameter of an Ame. The median ocular quadrangle is wider behind than in front in the ratio of 19:12. The [ unclear: ] is broad, similar in shape to alba, but the height is only equal to the diameter of an Ame.

Chelicerae (Fig. 13). Stout, similar in appearance to alba, with three strong teeth on the retromargin but with eight smaller teeth on the promargin. There is a group of strong, smooth setae on the prolateral surface as in alba, and a group of small hairs, but these latter appear to be smooth. A thin, erect, trans-

parent lamella extends down the median two-thirds of the ventral surface. The fang is short and slightly curved.

Maxillae. Longer than wide at the base in the ratio of 5:3, converging over labium, with thick distal scopula. Serrula distinct.

Labium. Three times as wide as long, distal margin indented, provided with a thin scopula.

Sternum. Coriaceous, scutiform, slightly indented laterally at bases of the pedal coxae; longer than wide in the ratio of 6:5. The posterior margin is bluntly rounded, terminating between coxae 4, which are separated from each other by a distance equal to slightly more than their diameter.

Legs. 4:1:2:3. Relatively stout, without spines, clothed with smooth setae, which, however, tend to be slightly serrate on the metatarsi and tarsi, particularly on the ventral surfaces of the segments. Legs 1–3 with three trichobothria on the tibia and one on the metatarsus. Leg 4 with four trichobothria on the tibia and one on the metatarsus. There is a tarsal “drum” on all tarsi, sub-proximal in position. There is a row of five small peg-like spines on the retro-lateral surface of the femur of the first leg (Fig. 15) and number of fine ridges forming a stridulating organ on the prolateral surface of the femur of the second leg (Fig. 14). Three claws, homogeneous, superior claws with from 3-4 small teeth on the ventral surface, inferior claw with a single ventral tooth.

Palps. Somewhat less than one and a-half times the length of the femur of the first legs, with a single trichobothrium near the mid-point of the tibia. Tarsal “drum” present but claw lacking.

Abdomen. Ovoid, clothed with short smooth setae, each of which rises from a small sclerotic plate. There are two pairs of small sclerotic plates on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. Six spinnerets, posterior and median pairs smallest, enclosed by a wide sclerotic ring from which the spiracle opens on the ventral surface. The epigynum is as shown in Figs. 7, 8.

Types. Holotype female, Binna Burra, Lamington Plateau, South Queensland, from leafmould from rain forest, September 7, 1952, T. E. Woodward, in Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Paratype female, same data, in Canterbury Museum (C.M.A. 1078).

Remarks. This species is very closely related to P. alba from the South Island of New Zealand. It may be separated from it by the relatively larger size of the anterior median eyes in relation to the other eyes, the anterior median eyes of binnaburra being almost equal in size to the lateral eyes as compared with alba where the anterior median eyes are only one half of the size of the lateral eyes.

Pararchaea rubra (Forster, 1949)

• 1949 Zearchaea rubra Forster. Rec. Cant. Mus 5 (4). 197. Fig. 24.

This species was originally placed by the present author in Zearchaea Wilton, but it should undoubtedly be now transferred to Pararchaea Forster. It may be readily separated from both alba and binnaburra by the bright orange-yellow abdomen which contrasts strongly with the creamy-white abdomens of the latter two species Dr. T. E. Woodward has forwarded to me an adult male specimen of this species which he collected from Little Barrier Island. In addition to providing an interesting extension to the known range of the species, this specimen has permitted the figuring and description of the male pedipalp,