| OCR Text |
Show 1889.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 45 Family THERIDIID^E. Gen. nov. C H A S M O C E P H A L O N. Cephalothorax short-oval; caput large and very convex above ; the ordinary oblique indentations dividing it from the thorax are greatly exaggerated, forming a deep chasm or cleft on each side. The posterior extremity of the thorax is broad and strongly indented or excavated in a curved form, forming a kind of socket into which the pedicle joining it to the abdomen fits. Eyes of very unequal size; in three well separated groups occupying the whole width of the fore part of the caput; the anterior pair of the central group smallest, the rest nearly equal. The clypeus considerably exceeds in height half that of the facial space, occupying about, or even more than, two thirds of it. Legs slender, moderately long, 1, 4, 2, 3 ; furnished with hairs and bristles onlv. The maxillee are short, curved, inclined towards the labium, and somewhat pointed at their extremities on the inner side. Labium short, broad, and round at the apex, which reaches nearly to the extremities of the maxillse. Abdomen considerably elevated in front and projecting greatly over the base of the thorax, with which it is connected by a distinct pedicle, the abdomen having also a kind of socket or excavation to receive it. Besides the usual spiracular openings there is a long transverse one beneath the abdomen just in front of the spinners. CHASMOCEPHALON NEGLECTUM, sp. n. (Plate II. fig. 6.) Adult male. Length scarcely over half a line. The surface of the cephalothorax, which is of aclear bright brownish-red hue, is granulose; the oblique cephalic indentations are deep and sharply cut, looking as if they would sever the caput from the thorax; the other normal (thoracic) grooves are also of somewhat the same nature, though very much less strong; the posterior end of the thorax is broad and deeply excavated; the hinder part of the caput is well rounded, the fore part flatter. The eyes of the central group form a trapezoid whose anterior side is much the shortest; the pair of eyes composing this side are very minute and contiguous to each other. The posterior pair are oval, large, contiguous, and of a pearly hue, their diameter equalling more than double that of the anterior pair ; each of these is separated from the anterior eye opposite to it by an interval only about equal to the diameter of the latter. The hind lateral eye on each side is separated from the hind central next to it by about 1| diameters of the former, and each fore lateral eye, which appears to be rather the largest of the eight, is contiguous to its hind lateral eye. The lateral eyes are also pearly, the fore centrals being a little darker. The legs are dull orange-yellow; the hairs longish, but not \ery numerous, and there are also a few prominent bristles. The palpi are unfortunately missing. Falces moderately strong, rather long, straight, and a little inclined |
