| OCR Text |
Show 1870.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON THE GENUS IDIOPS. 155 The eyes are situated upon a single oval tubercular elevation, immediately above the fore margin of the caput. This elevation is furnished with some strong, curved, spine-like bristles before and behind. The grouping of the eyes is normal, though more compact than in Idiops meadii and I. sigillatus: the two forming the foremost row are close above the fore margin of the caput: those of the second row (also two in number) are the largest of the eight, and seated on the summit of the elevation ; they are nearer together, though forming a rather longer row that the two foremost eyes : those of the third (or hinder) row are four in number, and small; they form two pairs, a pair occupying each extremity of the row ; the eyes of each of these pairs are contiguous to each other, thus leaving a wide interval between the two pairs: those of the first and second rows form nearly a square, whose transverse diameter is rather shorter than its longitudinal, and its fore side the shortest. The legs are very strong, and moderately long, their relative length being 4, 1, 2, 3 ; the difference between 1, 2, and 3 is slight; the actual lengths of 4 and 1 are 20 and 15 lines respectively : they are thickly clothed with brown-black hairs and inconspicuous spines: the metatarsi and tarsi are furnished beneath with pads of close-set hairs ; those on the tarsi are peculiarly arranged, leaving a longish narrow oval hollow along the centre of the pad : the tibiae of the first pair are armed at their extremity, rather underneath on the inner side, with a strong, curved, corneous projection, terminating with spiny bristles and sharp tooth-like spines; just above this projection is a short, strongish, tooth-like spine, which in this species occupies a position similar to that occupied in Idiops meadii by a second corneous process. The palpi are moderately long, strong, and furnished, like the legs, with hairs and spines : the radial joint is longer, but not stronger than the cubital; it is furnished thickly, and very conspicuously beneath, with long hairs and spines : the digital joint has a pad or tuft of close-set hairs at its extremity ; and the palpal organs consist of a nearly circular corneous bulb, prolonged in a slightly tortuous form, and terminating with two points, of which one is longer than the other and curved. These organs bear considerable resemblance to those oi Dysdera erythrina (Walck.). The falces have their profile abruptly curved; they are prominent, but moderate in length and strength, of a dark colour, and thickly furnished with mouse-grey hairs, among which are a few of a blackish hue ; the extremities have no spines on their uppersides ; and the hairs are so arranged as to form, with the dark ground, longitudinal bands or stripes. The maxillee are long and cylindrical, but have a protuberant point at their inner extremities; they are furnished on the inner sides with a fringe of strong bright-reddish hairs. Labium small, oblong, rounded at its apex. Sternum small, narrow-oval, very little wider behind than before. |
