Mysmena vitiensis n. sp. (Figs. 159–166).

Male. Measurements: Carapace—Length, 0.25; width, 0.21, height, 0.19. Abdomen—Length, 0.39; width, 0.38.

Colour. Entire animal uniform creamy-white.

Carapace (Fig. 166). Smooth, thoracic groove lacking. Rising, evenly, from the posterior margin to the eye region where it is highest. The eye region is produced forward so that it overhangs the clypeus.

Eyes. Eight, large, occupying most of the width of the head when viewed from above. AME dark, others pale. From above the posterior row appears slightly procurved, but from in front appears gently recurved. Ratio of AME: ALE: PME: PLE = 4. 6. 4. 5. The lateral eyes and PME are grouped as two contiguous triads. AME subcontiguous separated from each other by a distance equal to ¼ the width of an AME and from the ALE by ½ of the width of an AME.

Chelicerae Vertical, with three strong teeth on promargin and two on retromargin. The area between the teeth with numerous small denticles.

Sternum. Convex, smooth, as wide as long, truncated posteriorly between coxae 4. Maxillae transverse, not meeting, Labium somewhat wider than long.

Palp (Figs. 159–161). Without processes. Tibia with a single trichobothrium. Cymbium provided with a distal curved projection. Bulb simple with a singly coiled spinous embolus (Figs. 160, 161).

Legs. 1. 2. 4. 3. Clothed with smooth hairs, legs 1–3 with three (2. 1) trichobothria on tibia and one on metatarsus Leg 4 with four (1. 2. 1) trichobothria on tibia, none on metatarsus. Three claws. Tarsal drum proximal. Femoral organ absent.

Abdomen. Ovoid, clothed with smooth hairs, rising above the carapace. Six spinnerets and prominent rod-like colulus (Fig. 164) placed ventrally.

Female. Measurements: Carapace—Length, 0. 37; width, 0. 32; height, 0. 22. Abdomen—Length, 0. 75; width, 0. 58.

Similar to male in general characteristics. Palp lacking claw, with trichobothrium on tibia (Fig. 162). External epigynum without scape. Internal genitalia as in Fig. 165.

Types. Holotype male, allotype female, paratypes, Fiji, Sawani, near Suva, found suspended from the end of fine silken threads on epiphytes, July 19, 1956, R. R. Forster. (Holotype, allotype, Otago Museum, paratypes, Canterbury Museum.)

Mysmena woodwardi n. sp. Figs. 167–171.

Female. Measurements: Carapace—Length, 0. 46; width, 0. 43; height, 0. 25. Abdomen— Length, 0.89; width, 0. 84.

Colour. Carapace reddish-brown with dark shading down the median surface. Abdomen reddish brown with small pale spots along the lateral and anterodorsal surfaces. Legs reddish brown.

Carapace (Fig. 171). Widest behind, narrowing anteriorly. Thoracic groove lacking. Highest in eye region, sloping steeply back to the posterior margin.

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Eyes (Fig. 167). Eight, large, occupying most of the width of the head. Ratio AME: ALE: PME: PLE = 7:5:6:5. ALE separated from each other and ALE by 3/7 of the diameter of an AME. Lateral eyes contiguous. PME separated from each other by 9/7 of from the PLE by 2/7 of the diameter of an AME. From in front the anterior row appears straight and the posterior row strongly recurved. From above the posterior row is slightly procurved, while the anterior row is recurved. Clypeus vertical slightly higher than the width of an AME.

Chelicerae (Fig. 170). Promargin with three strong teeth, of which the distal is bifid Retromargin with single tooth, proximal surface of groove armed with numerous denticles.

Sternum. Convex, smooth, almost as wide as long, truncated posteriorly. Maxillae oblique, labium slightly wider than long.

Palp. Claw lacking .Single trichobothrium present on tibia.

Legs. Ventral surface of metatarsus and tarsus of leg 4 with a ventral row of strongly serrate bristles, otherwise legs clothed with smooth hairs. Legs 1–3 with three trichobothria on the tibia and one on the metatarsus. Leg 4 without a metatarsal trichobothrium but with four (1. 2. 1) on tibia. Tarsal drum proximal. Three claws.

Abdomen. Ovoid, rising twice the height of the carapace, clothed with short hairs. Six spinnerets with large triangular colulus furnished with two bristles. Epigynum in form of a broad sclerotic plate, without scape. Internal genitalia as in Fig. 169.

Types. Holotype female, paratype female, New Guinea, Al Valley, Nomdugl, West Highlands, ex moss, rain forest, ca. 6,500ft, T. E. Woodward. (Holotype Queensland Museum, paratype Otago Museum.)

Mysmena samoensis (Marples) 1955.

1955 Linyphia samoensis Marples. Proc. Linn. Soc. London, Vol. XLII, No. 287, p. 494, Pl. 59, Figs. 10, 14, 15, 16.

This species, described from Upolu and Manona, Western Samoa, appears to be a typical Mysmena. The original description for the species clearly characterises it, but I am able to add a few further details.

The epigynum is provided with a long and slender scape. A femoral spot is present on the femur of the first and second legs of the female. There are a number of minute teeth on the distal surface of the cheliceral furrow near the base of the fang. The anterior spiracles lead into short atria which are connected by a transverse duct. From each atrium there are three bunches of tracheae which are limited to the abdomen. There are two large posterior spiracles situated midway between the spinnerets and the epigastric groove, which open into atria. The atria are connected transversely, and a bunch of tracheae passes from each atrium through the petiolus to the cephalothorax.