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Show 742 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Nov. 1, Abdomen short, oval, rather suddenly narrowing near the hinder extremity ; it is moderately convex above, and projects slightly over the base of the cephalothorax; some short black bristles are thinly dispersed on its sides, and a few flattened erect ones on its upper-side ; of these several in a compact bunch or small group occupy the median line of the fore part; the outer side of each of the superior pair of spinners is black. A single adult male of this minute Spider was contained in the collection before alluded to, received from Mr. Thwaites of Ceylon. I can hardly venture to pronounce upon its family affinities. It appears to be related to Tegenaria, as well as to Uloborus, Mithras, and Miagrammopes; its habits are unknown ; but the number and disposition of its eyes and its general characters are interesting, and seem to remove it still further from the family Epeirides than the last three genera above mentioned. These genera, indeed, appear to be attached to that family chiefly, if not entirely, by their common habit of spinning a more or less orbicular snare ; this is a character which will, I think, eventually prove of too slender importance, taken by itself, to weigh against strong structural differences. In a most able and important work (before alluded to), ' On the Genera of European Spiders,' by Professor Thorell of Upsala, this author constitutes Uloborus and Mithras a subfamily (Uloborince) of the family Epeirides. The distinguishing characters given of the subfamily are strong; and that which unites it to the principal family, being only the form of the snare, seems to me likely to prove untenable. The comparative unimportance of this character is shown by its entire absence in an undoubted Epe'irid lately received from New Zealand, from Dr. Llewllyn Powell, M.D., who kindly favoured me with a sight of some interesting drawings of its snare: this, so far from being in any way geometric or orbicular, greatly resembled that of Dictyna benigna (Bl.), but was simpler and more artless. Dr. Powell's Spider is of the genus Arachnura (Vins.), a genus of which the typical species is said to weave a geometric snare. Family THOMISIDES? Nov. gen. PHYCUS (nom. propr.). Characters of the Genus.- Cephalothorax small, broad-oval; caput large and elevated. Eyes eight, large, seated in two transverse curved rows and occupying the whole width of the upper fore part of the caput, forming somewhat of a crescent whose horns point backwards. Abdomen large, short, oval or, rather, heart-shaped, being broad in front and going off on either side in a gradual convex line to a point at the spinners ; it is rather convex above, and projects greatly over the base of the cephalothorax, so that the fore margin of the abdomen almost touches the hinder row of eyes, where both it and the cephalothorax are in close contact with each other. Legs short, strong, tapering, armed with hairs and long slender spines and bristles. Each tarsus ends with three claws. |
