OCR Text |
Show 1879.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 289 the abdomen is deep blackish brown, marked and spotted with yellow. Hab. Cambodia. GASTERACANTHA CLAVEATA, sp. n. (Plate XXVII. fig. 17) This Spider is closely allied to Gasteracantha (Plectana) clavatrix, Walck., resembling it nearly in size and in the curious enlargement at the extremities of the intermediate spines ; but the greater length and rather more slender shaft, and the still more club-like form of the bulbous termination of these spines in the present Spider, lead me to believe it to be of a distinct species. In four examples before m e of G. clavatrix, the upperside of the abdomen has a distinct, but irregular, narrow, submarginal, black band or stripe from the intermediate spines to the fore extremity, including the sigilla; I can detect no trace of this band in the present Spider. The sigilla are small, 10 in front and 8 behind, and of a red-brown hue, both the upper and under surface of the abdomen being of a uniform brownish clay-colour (though no doubt much faded by the drying of the specimen). Hab. Celebes. GASTERACANTHA SIMONI, sp. n. (Plate XXVII. fig. 18.) Length of the transverse diameter of the adult female, exclusive of the spines, 4 lines ; longitudinal diameter 2§- lines. This Spider is nearly allied to Gasteracantha crucigera, Bradley, but differs in its markings as well as in the length and strength of its spines. The abdomen is of a subpentagonal form, almost subtriangular, truncated at the apex. The intermediate spines are moderately long, strong, very slightly curved and a very little directed backwards, and placed at each corner of the hinder part of the abdomen ; close in front of each is one of the anterior spines; these are very minute, but about the same size as the posterior ones. The colour of the abdomen is yellow ; the sigilla are normal in number, of a deep red-brown colour, and the posterior pair of the four central ones are the largest; this is quite abnormal so far as I am aware. The spines are rich deep red-brown. The underside of the abdomen is yellowish, rugulose, thickly studded with very small reddish-brown circular tubercles, and also somewhat clouded with brown. The cephalothorax is dark reddish brown, clothed with short, grey, adpressed hairs. The leo-s are yellow-brown, lightest on the undersides of the femora; the tibise and metatarsi are darkest, a small part of the basal portion of the metatarsi and tarsi being yellow, giving a somewhat annulated appearance to those joints. Hab. Cape York. GASTERACANTHA ACROSOMOIDES, sp. n. (Plate XXVII. fig. 19.) Length of the greatest transverse diameter of the adult female, PROC. ZOOL. SOC-1879, No. XIX. 19 |