| OCR Text |
Show 1883.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW SPIDERS. 363 yellowish-white markings, with a considerable well-defined patch of the same colour just above the spinners ; on the underside is a broad central longitudinal dull yellowish band, with a short narrow bar of the same between its hinder end and the spinners ; six small somewhat impressed circular spots, each surrounded by a halo of dark yellow-brown, form two parallel longitudinal lines of three spots in each towards the hinder part of the central yellowish band. The spinners are of a dark brown hue, short, closely grouped together, and similar in length, but the inferior pair much the strongest. A single example of this little Spider (which, however, may possibly attain a much larger size at its maturity) was received from Ceylon in 1871 from the late Mr. G. II. K. Thwaites. At first sight it is very like a Salticid Spider ; but its structure, though strongly allied to some other Thomisid genera, seems to require a new genus for its reception. PHERECYDES, g. n. (nom. propr.). Cephalothorax short, broad, and nearly round. Eyes 8, not very large, but unequal in size, occupying the whole transverse diameter of the caput, those of each lateral pair seated upon an extensive tubercular prominence, extending laterally beyond the lower part of the caput. Their relative position is that common to many Thomisid genera belonging to the Xysticus group, forming two nearly parallel curved transverse lines, the convexity of the curve directed forwards ; the external eyes of the anterior row are the largest. Legs neither very long nor strong; those of the second pair were wanting in the only example seen ; those of the fourth pair are considerably shorter than those of the first, the third being a little shorter than the fourth. The second pair would probably be slightly shorter than the first. They are furnished thinly with hairs and a few spines, besides which beneath the tibiae and metatarsi of the first and second pairs are some longer and stronger sessile spines arranged in successive pairs. Each tarsus ends with two curved pectinated claws. Palpi short, and terminating with a small curved claw. Maxilla rather long, a little enlarged in a pointed-oval form at their extremity, and inclined over the labium, which appears to be of a rather narrow or oblong form, as if lanceolate, with the point of the lancet (at its apex) truncated ; but this portion of structure, owing to some adventitious substance obscuring it, could not be satisfactorily determined, Sternum heart-shaped. Abdomen of a somewhat pentagonal form, broadest and highest behind. Spinners small; those of the inferior rather stronger than those of the superior pair. PHERECYDES TUBERCULATUS, sp. n. (Plate XXXVII. fig. 8.) Adult female, length 2 lines. The colour of the cephalothorax is light whitish yellow tinged |
