OCR Text |
Show 1879.] ON A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF SPIDERS. 119 3. On a new Genus and Species of Spiders of the Family Salticides. By the Rev. O. P. CAMBRIDGE,, M.A., C.M.Z.S. [Keceived December 17, 1878.] Some few months ago, Mr. Charles Darwin very kindly forwarded to m e two pretty little silken nests of a Spider of the family Salticides, formed on the upper surface of the leaves of, apparently, some shrub or herbaceous plant, and received a short time previously from Herr Fritz Muller of Blumenau, Sta. Catherina, Brazil. More recently, in answer to a letter written to him by myself, asking for information about the maker of these little nests, Herr Muller has most obligingly and promptly sent m e two more, together with several of the Spiders by which they are constructed. All the Spiders are females, and all, excepting one, immature. The nests are remarkable from their form, and from the exactly similar size and shape of all the four that have come under m y notice; they also appear to be, as Herr Muller tells me, invariably formed on the midrib of the upper side of the leaf. The accompanying figure (p. 120) will give a good idea of this curious little three-entranced domicile. There is nothing particularly remarkable in the appearance of the Spider. It is, however, interesting in respect of the generic details of its structure; for although it bears a strong affinity to several European genera of Salticides (Menemerus, Sim., Marpessa, C. L. Koch, Hyctia, Sim., and Lcius ejusd.), I a m unable to get it satisfactorily into any of them; I have therefore characterized a new genus for its reception. Herr Muller tells m e that he finds the nests of this Spider ou the leaves of various plants. Fam. SALTICIDES. F R I T Z I A , g. n. Cephalothorax longer than broad, the length being about half as much again as the breadth ; upper surface perfectly flat; depth moderate ; hinder slope short and very abrupt. Ocular area rectangular, considerably broader than long (the length being no more than half the breadth), and scarcely more than one third the length of the cephalothorax. Eyes of foremost row very unequal in size, separated by rather considerable intervals, those of middle row nearer to the foremost than to the hinder row. Legs short, moderate in strength, relative length apparently 1,4, 2, 3, the actual difference between 1, 4 and 2, 3 respectively being very small; those of first pair much the strongest. Spines beneath metatarsi and tibiae of first and second pairs; those of first pair long and strong. Abdomen short oval, and of a somewhat flattened form. |