OCR Text |
Show 1876.] BEV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON EGYPTIAN SPIDERS. 601 and radial joints, and the larger size (especially the greater width) of the digital joint; and the palpal organs are different in their structure. The legs also are far less distinctly annulated, and are quite destitute of the long erect hairs so conspicuous in T. pilipes. Two adult males and an adult female were found in the neighbourhood of Cairo. TROCHOSA URBANA, sp. n. (Pl. LX. fig. 14.) Lycosa agretyca, Savigny, Egypte, p. 147, pl. iv. fig. 6. This Spider, although nearly allied to Trochosa (Lycosa) agretyca (Walck. & Blackw.), is quite distinct from that species, and is in fact still more nearly allied to L. campestris (W'. & B.). From the former the distinctly marked bright yellow colour of the normal macula on the fore half of the abdomen, as well as its pointed hinder extremity, will distinguish it at a glance ; while from the latter, with which it agrees in size, and which it resembles greatly in appearance, it may easily be separated by the character of the central longitudinal yellow band on the cephalothorax. This in T. campestris is broad, tapering towards its hinder extremity, strongly constricted at the hinder part of the caput, and its fore part marked with two longitudinal parallel brown lines; whereas in T. urbana the central band is narrow and of uniform width from the hinder slope to the middle of the ocular area, having a pale yellowish longitudinal line on each side of its fore part near the eyes. Alsjo, in all the examples found, the digital joint of the male is pale-coloured instead of being of a deep reddish brown as in L. campestris. The palpal organs of the male also differ in structure. Adult and immature examples of both sexes were not infrequent among low plants and other herbage in a marsh near Alexandria. TROCHOSA EFFERA. Lycosa effera, Cambr. Spid. Palest. & Syr., P. Z. S. 1872, p. 318. An adult male and female were found in the neighbourhood of Cairo, differing from the Palestine specimens only in size, the Egyptian examples being the largest. The adult male measures 5| lines in length, and the female 7 lines. An immature female was also found near Alexandria. Gen. TARENTULA, Sund. TARENTULA TARENTULINA. Lycosa tarentulina, Savigny, Egypte, p. 143, pl. iv. fig. 2. Immature examples (of the female only) were found in abundance near Alexandria, in their cylindrical holes on waste and desert places ; the hoary-grey ground colour, and the black underside of the abdomen distinguish this Spider from all others of the family found by myself in Egypt. TARENTULA TRUCULENTA, sp. n. Female immature, length rather over 5 lines. This Spider is very nearly allied in colours and general appearance |