| OCR Text |
Show 556 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON EGYPTIAN SPIDERS. [June 20, DlCTYNA CONDUCENS, sp. n. (Plate LVIII. fig. 3.) Adult male, length 1 line. This Spider is very nearly allied to the next, D. condocta, resembling it closely in colours and in the general character of its markings. It may, however, be easily distinguished by the less distinctness and boldness of the markings on the abdomen, as well as by the darker thorax contrasted against the paler caput, some of the hoary hairs on which last form a tolerably distinct narrow longitudinal band. The clypeus also exceeds in height half that of the facial space, and projects more forwards. The underside of the abdomen also is of a uniform pale dull yellowish colour. The radial joints of the palpi are destitute of the characteristic spine near the hinder extremity of the upperside; the digital joints are smaller in proportion; and the spine surrounding the palpal organs is far less strong and conspicuous, being shorter and much more slender. The falces, while presenting the characteristic form of the genus, exhibit it in a less marked degree than those of D. condocta. Adults of both sexes appeared to be numerous on the branches of the Sont Acacia, in February, March, and April, near Cairo and in other parts of Lower Egypt. DICTYNA CONDOCTA, sp. n. (Plate LVIII. fig. 4.) Adult male, length rather less than 1 line. The cephalothorax of this small species is strongly constricted laterally at the junction of the caput and thorax ; the caput is slightly elevated and rounded ; the clypeus projects forwards at its lower part, and its height is not quite equal to half that of the facial space. The colour of the cephalothorax is a deep yellow-brown with a blackish margin; and its surface is thinly furnished with coarse hoary hairs. The eyes are in the usual position ; those of the fore central pair are separated by a wider interval than that by which each is divided from the lateral eye on its side ; those of the fore and hinder central pairs form very nearly a square, the posterior side being a little longer than the anterior one ; those of the fore central pair are dark-coloured, the rest being of a light hue. The legs are moderately strong, and rather long ; their relative length being 1, 2, 4, 3; they are of a pale yellowish hue, and furnished with hairs, The palpi are short, similar to the legs in colour, except the digital joint, which is of a yellow-brown hue ; the cubital and radial joints are both very short; but the latter appears to be a little the longest, and has at the hinder extremity of the upperside a short, bent, pointed spine whose tip is of a dark blackish colour; the digital joint is large, and the palpal organs simple, though prominent at their hinder extremity ; they are completely encircled by a strong black tapering spine, which is very visible close beneath the margins of the joint. |
