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Show 1877.] ON SPIDERS FROM DUKE-OF-YORK ISLAND ETC. 283 CHILOGNATHA. SPIROBOLUS, Brandt. SPIROBOLUS CINCTIPES, n. sp. $. Reddish tawny, with the hind borders of the segments blackish ; legs and antennae grey, banded with white : a linear impression down the centre of the head ; first segment rounded at the lateral angles, with a marginal ridge, not striated; remaining segments with lateral irregular striations ; preanal segment subspinose behind, not extending to a level with the extremity of the anal valves ; fifty-five dorsal segments ; preanal plate subtriangular, compressed ; antennae short, thick, with all the joints excepting the last of nearly equal length, the last joint forming a terminal button ; eyes in a rounded subtrianglar mass, blackish, grouped in six rows ; 103 pairs of legs; length 3 inches 10 lines. Allied to S. gaimardi of Gervais from N e w Ireland, but with a greater number of segments and legs, and very different coloration. Several examples of this species were obtained ; but, unfortunately, all but one were broken beyond the possibility of rearrangement of the parts : the type, being much larger than the others, and being merely separated in the middle, was easily readjusted. 3. O n some Spiders collected by the Rev. George B r o wn in Duke-of-York Island, N e w Britain, and N e w Ireland. By the Rev. O. P. CAMBRIDGE, M.A., C.M.Z.S. [Eeceived March 12 1877.] I a m much indebted to the Secretary of the Zoological Society for the opportunity of examining a few Spiders collected, among numerous other natural-history objects, by the Rev. George Brown in Duke-of- York Island, N e w Britain, and N e w Ireland. T w o of these spiders, an Argiope (family Epeirides) and a Sarotes (family Thomisides) appear to m e to be undescribed ; and upon the former I have taken the liberty to confer Mr. Brown's name. Another of the Spiders, a very distinct and handsome Gasteracantha (G. panisicca, Butl.), has been already described, but only from dried examples, which must have wholly lost their characteristic colours and markings; I have therefore subjoined a description of its colours and markings from Mr. Brown's specimens. The remaining Spider is one of those gigantic Nephilee (specially characterized by two small tubercular eminences on the middle of the cephalothorax) of the orbicular snares of which most natural-history collectors in exotic regions bring home startling accounts, but of which scarcely any collectors have yet been sufficiently observant to detect the minute males. This, however, is the sex in which the araneologist expects to find the most conclusive specific characters ; and, indeed, until the males come to hand, it is often exceedingly difficult to give a reliable opinion upon the specific identity of these and many other Spiders. |