OCR Text |
Show 1879.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 287 varieties I have seen of that species ; and as it comes from the opposite side of Africa, I a m induced to describe it as a distinct species. The sigilla are rather large and of a deep reddish brown hue, as are also the spines, the cephalothorax, and legs, the falces being darker. The colouring of the abdomen generally has entirely disappeared, from the bad state of preservation of the only example in m y possession. Hab. West coast of Africa. GASTERACANTHA CREPIDOPHORA, sp. n. (Plate XXVII. fig. 14.) Length of the transverse diameter of the adult female, inclusive of the spines, 7\ lines; longitudinal diameter, exclusive of spines, 3 lines. The remarkable form of the intermediate spines, that of a boot with a sharp toe, will serve to distinguish this curious Spider from all others of the genus known to me. The anterior spines are well removed from the intermediate ones, rather small, and not very strong, being similar in length but not quite so strong as the posterior ones. The intermediate spines are very strong, rather long, bent; and near the extremity the curved point goes off nearly at right angles, forming a large roundish heel; the point forms the foot; and the whole bears a very exact resemblance to a boot. The cephalothorax is black-brown ; the legs are dull brown, the femora being the lightest-coloured. The abdomen is of a somewhat subpentagonal form, and of a slightly brownish yellow colour, with a broad marginal black band on each side in front, including the anterior spines and four of the front sigilla ; the intermediate spines are orange-coloured on their basal half, the rest being black with a slight reflection of steel-blue ; the posterior spines are black. The anterior sigilla are normal in number, 10 ; the posterior ones only 8 - two larger ones on each side, with four minute ones between them. All are rather small, and of a black colour. This Spider appears to form the type of a very distinct group of the genus. Hab. Dorey, N e w Guinea. GASTERACANTHA HELVA. (Plate XXVII. fig. 15.) Gasteracantha helva, Bl. Ann. & Mag. N . H . ser. 3, vol. xiv. p. 42. Adult female : length of the transverse diameter at the widest point, exclusive of the spines, rather over 3 lines ; longitudinal diameter rather more than 2 | lines. The abdomen is of a subpentagonal form; the intermediate (or longest) spines are placed at the exterior angles of the hinder part of the abdomen ; they are moderately long, strong, rapidly tapering to a sharp point beginning a little way from their extremity and directed strongly outwards and a little backwards ; these spines are of a deep, rich, shining steel-blue colour. The posterior ones are shorter and much less strong, rather nearer to each other than each is to the |