OCR Text |
Show 1012 MR. OLDFIELD THOMAS ON THE [Dec. 15, anterior side shortest, the posterior spots are largest; the fore half is bounded by a broadish lateral band of cream-colour, and from the inner extremities of the band a curved narrow tapering stripe of the same hue runs inwards and backwards, but their points do not meet; following this towards the spinners is a curved transverse cream-coloured stripe, being only linear in tlie middle, close behind which again is a short curved transverse cream line connecting the bases of two triangular patches ot the same hue; spinners short, compact underside dusky margined with a cream-coloured suffused border. Colulus short, triangular. Received from Prof. Traill; taken on the Amazons. EXPLANATION OF PLATE LII. Fig.l. Aetius decollate, 2 (p. 1007). la. Profile lb. Eyes from above and behind. U. Maxilla, labium, and sternum. Id. Sternum, showing more clearly posterior elongation and angular points. 1 e. Genital aperture. « , .. a c 2. Friula wal/acii, 2 (P- 1009)- 2a. Profile. 2b Abdomen from behind. 2 c. Maxillae, labium, and sternum. 2 d. Lines showing natural length and width of Spider. 3. Labdacus monastoides, tf (p. 1009). 3 a. Eyes. 3 J. Palpus. 3 c. Portion of palpus. 3 d. Labium and fore part of sternum. 4. Stephanopoides brasiliana, 8 (P- 1010). 4a. Eyes from above and bebind. 46. Palpus. 6. On the Genera of Rodents: an Attempt to bring up to Date the current Arrangement of the Order. By OLDEIELD THOMAS, P.Z.S. [Eeceived November 13, 1896.] Just over twenty years ago, in 1876 \ Mr. E. R. Alston contributed to this Society his invaluable paper " O n the Classification of the Order Glires," a paper which in its broad outlines has formed the basis for almost every Museum Catalogue, compiler's list, and general text-book that has been written since it appeared. Based as it was on tbe earlier works of Waterhouse, Gervais, Brandt, and Lilljeborg, Alston's arrangement has in this way received almost universal sanction, and the present writer is far from wishing to alter the essential characteristics of the SCllCHlG* But, owing partly to Alston's not having seen examples of many of the genera included, and partly to the great increase in the number of known forms that has taken place since he wrote, his paper has gradually become somewhat obsolete in its detailed arrangement of the subfamilies and genera, however correct his positions for the suborders and families may still be considered to be. * P.Z.S. 1876, p. 61. |