| OCR Text |
Show 1876.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON EGYPTIAN SPIDERS. 595 distinct transverse slit or opening, probably the orifice of a portion of the tracheal system. A single example only was found near Cairo. Probably other examples would show some variation in the distinctness of the markings ; but even from this one example it appears to me to be a very distinct species. PHILODROMUS VENUSTUS, sp.n. (Plate LIX. fig. 12.) Adult male, length not quite 1| lines ; adult female, rather more than 2 lines. The cephalothorax of this pretty and very distinct species has a broad central longitudinal yellow band, as wide as tbe length of the hinder row of ejes, including most of the ocular area, and with a paler angular bar at the hinder part of the caput, the angle directed backwards ; the sides and clypeus, excepting a narrow marginal cream-white line, are of a rich dark brown colour, somewhat curvi-dentate on the lower edge; and on either side of the caput, just below each end of the ocular area, is a yellowish spot; the height of the clypeus equals half that of the facial space. The eyes are in the ordinary position ; those of the fore central pair are rather larger than the rest, and are much further from each other than each is from the fore lateral eye on its side ; the four central eyes describe a square whose fore side is the shortest. The legs are long and rather slender, their relative length being 2, 1, 4, 3, or 2, 4, 1, 3 ; they are yellow, broadly banded and otherwise slightly marked with a brightish brown, but most distinctly and darkly on those of the third and fourth pairs ; they are also furnished with hairs and a few fine inconspicuous spines. The palpi are rather short, and similar in colours and markings to the legs; the radial and cubital joints are short, but of about equal length, the former being furnished with several spines and a small pointed corneous apophysis at its extremity on the outer side; the digital joint is rather long and of a narrow oval form and yellow-brown colour; the palpal organs are very simple, consisting apparently of an oval lobe without any noticeable processes. The falces are moderate in length and strength, straight and subconical, of a yellow colour, with two reddish black-brown patches in front of each, one near the base, the other towards the extremity ; in fact the base is more or less reddish black-brown all round. The maxilla and labium are of the usual form and, with the sternum, of a pale yellow colour ; the latter has an elongate triangular black spot at its hinder extremity. The abdomen is of an oval form, pointed behind and somewhat flattish above ; it is of a bright buff colour, the upperside margined on each side, but not quite to the hinder extremity, with a deep-black- brown well-defined stripe, edged on the inner side with cream-white ; from the fore extremity a short black-brown central stripe runs a little way along the ordinary marking, which is of a much paler colour and ill defined ; and from a little way above the spinners a narrow cream-white stripe runs nearly to the extremity of the or- |
