OCR Text |
Show 252 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON TAPIRUS TERRESTRIS. [May 7, The falces are massive, with some sharp teeth opposed to the strong, curved fang, and a compact group of spines at their extremity, in front, on the upperside near the articulation of the fang. The legs are short, very strong, and armed with spines on the tibise and metatarsi of the two anterior pairs. The colour of the above parts is yellow-brown to rich reddish brown. The nest consists of a short tube, covered with minute fragments of bark and lichens, and almost concealed in the interstices of the bark of a tree; at the upper end is a nearly circular, hinged wafer-lid, similarly concealed by lichens and bits of bark. Two specimens of this nest, and the Spiders in them, were very recently forwarded to me by post by Mr. Frederick Tayler, of Rainhill, Lancashire ; but unfortunately the Spiders and the bark in which the nests were placed were completely crushed and almost comminuted in the postal transit, so that no part of the Spiders could be distinguished excepting the fragments from which the figures annexed were drawn. These fragments, however, show that the Spider is nearly allied to Moggridgea, Cambr., but distinct. I have therefore thought that a new genus might be based upon them, and that thus the attention of collectors being drawn to the fact of there being a Tree Trap-door Spider inhabiting Brazil, more examples might be obtained, and further details of the Spider's size, form, and position of the eyes ascertained. The only hitherto known Trapdoor Spiders inhabiting trees have been found in South Africa. The Spiders and nests now described were received by Mr. Tayler from Mr. Dukinfield Jones, C.E., by whom they were found in the Organ Mountains, Brazil. 3. Some Notes upon the Anatomy of the American Tapir (Tapirus terrestris). B y F R A N K E. B E D D A R D , M.A., Prosector to the Society. [Eeceived May 6, 1889.] Having dissected two specimens of the American Tapir, I have been able to supplement in some particulars tbe accounts given by Owen (6), Yarrell (9), Eudes-Deslongchamps (3), Mayer (11), and Turner (8) of the anatomy of this animal. M y notes principally refer to a young Tapir which died in the Society's Gardens on February 13th of the present year, having lived in the Gardens for only two months. The animal measured 41 inches from the tip of the snout to the root of the tail (the measurement being taken along the curves of the back). The height at the shoulder was 22 inches. The animal showed the white bands which characterize the young. Alimentary Tract. The hard palate was furnished with 15 ridges and one incomplete ridge on either side which showed an alternate arrangement, the |