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Show 1882.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON N E W ARANEIDEA. 433 short, 4, 1, 2, 3, furnished with hairs only; and each tarsus (so as I could ascertain) ending with three small curved claws. Falces small and rather weak. Maxillce short, strong, broadest at their extremities, nearly straight. Labium very short, broad, about half the length of the maxillae, and slightly rounded at its apex. Sternum somewhat quadrate in form, as though truncated behind, where it is a little narrower than in front. Abdomen very large, globular (or, more properly, somewhat hemispherical) and projecting over the cephalothorax so as almost to conceal it when looked at from above and behind. Cuticle not coriaceous, but marked above with four small dark impressed spots in the form of a quadrangle whose anterior side is shortest. OGULNIUS OBTECTUS, sp. n. (Plate XXX. fig. 9.) Adult female, length ~ of an inch. The whole of the fore part of this minute and curious little Spider is of a dull yellow-brown colour. The cephalothorax is marked on each side by several short, wedge-shaped, converging dark-brown patches, with another stronger one on each side below the occiput. The interval between the eyes of the hind central pair is much greater than that between each and the hind lateral eye on its side, while the relative positions of the eyes of the anterior are exactly the reverse of those of the posterior row. The abdomen is thinly clothed with short hairs, and is of a uniform somewhat vinous brownish hue. The genital aperture is of simple form, and is almost concealed by the posterior side of the sternum, which presses hard up against it. This part of the sternum has the appearance of being crushed by the operation of the large abdomen continually pressing against it, and so giving it its quadrate form. The pedicle connecting the abdomen and cephalothorax is also placed abnormally high up. The spinners are short and compact, the anterior pair being the strongest. This genus is allied to Stegosoma, Cambr.; but the form of the maxillae, labium, and sternum distinguishes it at a glance ; the shape of this last is very unusual, and gives rise to a quite abnormal lateri-grade position of the legs. Two examples were contained in Mr. Traill's Amazon collection, and are the smallest adult exotic Spiders I have ever yet seen, being scarcely larger than a good-sized pin's head. TECMESSA, g. n. (nom. propr.) Allied to Phoroncidia, Westw.; but[the caput is less drawn out, and is rather gibbous at the top of the posterior slope. Thoracic indentation large and deep. Eyes unequal in size; the four largest form a large central quadrangle longer than broad, with the lateral pairs near on either side, their eyes respectively placed very slightly if at all obliquely; and |
