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Show 524 REV. 0. PICJTARn-CAMBRinGE O N [Apr. 18, length of the maxillae, and rather rounded at the apex; colour like that of the maxillae. Sternum as broad as or even a little broader than long, of a pale dull brownish-yellow colour, and somewhat triangular heart-shape ; the posterior extremity is a little drawn out into an obtuse point. Abdomen oval, of a dull luteous brown colour, paler above than on the sides, clothed with coarse pale hairs; spinners rather short, compact, the inferior pair much the strongest. Hab. Madagascar. DicEA PLACATA, sp. n. (Plate XXX. fig. 6.) Adult male, length 1| to If line. Adult female, 2\ to 2f lines. In general form and structure this species is normal, as also is the relative size and position of the eyes. The eyes, however, of the posterior row are less nearly equidistant from each other than in many other species, the central pair being considerably nearer together than to the laterals. In the male the colour of the cephalothorax and falces is orange-yellow ; the legs and palpi yellow, as also the maxillae, labium, and sternum. The abdomen is of a dull luteous colour, marked along the sides with dull silvery white, and covered with a few dark bristly prominent hairs. Spines on all the legs excepting the tarsi. Claw-tuft small. Tarsal claws closely aud regularly pectinate. Legs slender, relative length 2-1-4-3, 1 and 2 greatly the longest. Palpi short, radial and cubital joints of equal length ; the former has a few spiny bristles, and a long, pale, tapering and somewhat diaphanous curved spine-like apophysis at its fore extremity on the outer side, longer than tbe joint itself ; on the underside is a much shorter and strong prominence somewhat bifid at its extremity, one of the bifid points being furnished with a terminal short thornlike spine. The margin of the joint between these two apophyses has a row of short bristles which are continued round the edge of the lower apophysis. Digital joint rather small, short oval. The palpal organs consist of a strong circularly curved, tapering corneous process, surrounded by a black spine which emanates from the lower part on the inner side of the large process, and terminates on the outer side at its anterior extremity. The female has the cephalothorax tinged more or less strongly with dull olive-greenish brown. The genital aperture consists of two small yellow-brown circular orifices'.in a transverse line, with tbe ordinary ducts and spermathecee beneath the epidermis showing very distinctly in a somewhat omega-form. It is very possible that this Spider when alive may be ot a more or less vivid green hue like our native species D. dorsata Fabr. * colours of this kind usually fading in specimens preserved in spirit. Adults of both sexes were received from Ceylon, from the late Mr. G. H . K. Thwaites. |
