OCR Text |
Show 1876.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON EGYPTIAN SPIDERS. 609 though I am inclined to think it is of a distinct species. In some adult male examples the legs are entirely yellow, without any dark markings or annulations whatever ; in general, however, they are more or less distinctly annulated with dusky brown or brown-black, especially in the females. Adults of both sexes were found near Alexandria. Fam. SPHASIDES. Gen. O X Y O P E S , Latr. OXYOPES ALEXANDRINUS. Sphasus alexandrinus, Sav. et Aud. Egypte, p. 142, pl. iv. fig. 1. Adult and immature examples of each sex were found near Cairo on branches of the sont acacia. OXYOPES BILINEATUS, sp. n. Length of an immature female, 2 lines. Several very young examples of this species were found near Cairo, in a similar situation to that in which the last species was found. I feel no doubt that it is a distinct and probably undescribed species, though in the immature condition this is not absolutely certain, Spiders varying sometimes very considerably in the young state. In general form and position of the eyes the present Spider is very similar to O. alexandrinus. The abdomen is of a yellow-brown colour, marked on the upperside with two very nearly parallel longitudinal pale yellowish lines rather wide apart, and comprising a broad brown elongate-oval band running the whole length of the abdomen. The sides are entirely devoid of the oblique pale lines so characteristic in O. alexandrinus; nor are there any angular lines, or chevrons, on the hinder half of the upperside of the abdomen. The cephalothorax is yellow, with three broad longitudinal brown bands. Fam. SALTICIDES. In recording and describing the species of this family found by myself in Egypt, I have not attempted to place them in any systematic consecutive order: the known species are placed first; aud they are followed in each genus by the species considered to be new to science. Few families of the Araneidea need a thorough revision so much as the Salticides, especially with respect to the exotic genera. The number of described species of the family is now so great (upwards of one thousand) that their certain subdivision into well marked genera becomes each year a more pressing necessity. M. Eugene Simon has worked hard and successfully at the European forms of this family ; and I am mainly indebted to him for the determination of those found in Egypt. Gen. BALLUS, Thor. B A L L U S PIGER, sp. n. Adult female, length 2 lines. This Spider is very nearly allied to Ballus hclcrophthalmus, |