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Show 558 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON N E W A R A N E I D E A . [June 19, only the second species known, either of the genus or family, which were lately founded by Dr. Ludwig Koch upon an Australian Spider. The present species is thus another instance of a Spider peculiar (so far as our present knowledge goes) to Ceylon and Australia. Previous instances have been furnished in the genera Amycle and Miagrammopes. Of the third family (Eripides) little is known. Two species only besides the present, have been described; and all of them are from Brazil, the present being the first recorded example of the male sex. The close affinity between the Eripides and Stephanopides has not yet received sufficient attention. The latter family is (as at present known) exclusively from Australia and N e w Zealand, while the former is South-American. The family Podophthalmides, which is the next contained in this paper, is one of which one (West-African) species only has before been named. Dr. Ludwig Koch, indeed, describes a second species from the river Anseba, E. Africa; but, being doubtful as to its distinctness, he has given it no name. The genus Podophthalma (Ca-pello) is an instance of tbe difficulty, in some cases, of assigning a systematic place to a Spider. Dr. L. Koch, 'iEgyptische und Abyssinische Arachniden,' p. 36, would place this genus in the family Agelenides ; M . Simon thinks that it belongs, "without any doubt whatever," to the family Oxyopides, while to myself it appears necessary to constitute the type species (with those here described) and the genus Ocyale (Sav.) a distinct family next to the Lyco-sides. That there is some affinity with the Agelenides, I have myself observed (see infra, p. 566, the remarks there made having been written before those of Dr. L. Koch had come under my notice). Of the five species of Podophthalma described below, one is from East-Central India, another from the river Coanza, two from Madagascar, and one from Brazil. Two of these, P. incerta and P. diversa, undoubtedly show characters which give some support to Dr. L. Koch's view of their systematic position ; and these may perhaps have to be separated under another generic appellation, and be removed to the Agelenides ; but how far the typical species of Podophthalma would necessarily follow them, should they be so removed, is not so clear to me at present. The fifth family, Dinopides, including the genus Avella described below, contains now three genera and is an exceedingly remarkable group ; and I confess that its systematic position is, as yet, a puzzle to me. Walckenaer, as well as Macleay, who founded it, placed Dinopis in the family Lycosides, between which and the Salticides I have at present left it, though that place will probably not long retain it. I cannot, however, agree with Dr. L. Koch, who places Dinopis in the family Eresides (vide infra, p. 573) ; I would rather suggest that its place is nearer to the Agelenides, though in the absence of any knowledge of its habits it is impossible to speak with certainty upon this point. The new Salticid genus Athamas. the last Spider here described, |