OCR Text |
Show 1 16 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON SOME NEW [Jan. 21, ences I should have determined it, without hesitation, from its exceedingly similar general character and appearance, to have been identical with that remarkable genus. Taking, then, the general characters of the two as very nearly similar, the distinctions between Otiothops (as described and figured by Macleay) and Pachypus are as follows :- 'The legs of the first pair consist of the normal number (7) of joints, instead of 6, as in Otiothops; and these are furnished with terminal tarsal claws, whereas in Otiothops there are none on the legs of the first pair. The tarsal claws (of all the legs) are three, whereas those of Otiothops, on the legs of the three hinder pairs, are but two. The spinners are two in number, while in Otiothops Macleay states them to be six. The above differences show a nearer approach in some respects to Palpimanus (Duf.) than even to Otiothops ; but although remarkably similar in colour, appearance, the form of the legs, and number of spinners, to Palpimanus, the position of the eyes is so strikingly dissimilar, as to make it impossible to include them in the same genus. PACHYPUS MACLEAYI, sp. n. (Plate XII. fig. 2.) Male adult, lengtb 2 lines. The cephalothorax is oval and has a smooth surface destitute of hairs, and almost equally convex on all parts of the upperside except behind, where it is a little higher (when looked at in profile) than in front; and the hind slope is rather abrupt; the normal furrows and indentations are obsolete, except a central longitudinal indentation on the hinder slope, indicating the thoracic junction ; its colour is a deep but clear and bright red-brown; the surface smooth and destitute of hairs; and the height of the clypeus is nearly about half that of the facial space. The eyes are unequal in size, and in four pairs or two transverse rows equal in their lengths and curves, which are directed from each other ; those of the two central pairs form very nearly a square, the hind centrals being very small, and the fore centrals large, by far the largest of the eight; the former are considerably separated from each other, while the latter are nearly contiguous one to the other; those of each lateral pair are also contiguous to each other, and seated on a slight tubercle. The legs are moderate in length-their relative length being 1, 4, 2, 3 ; and their colour is rather paler than that of the cephalothorax ; those of the first pair have the basal (first) and third joints of remarkable strength; the point of junction between the second and third joints is of ordinary size, but the latter immediately thence enlarges above in an excessively protuberant form ; a similar character is discernible in the corresponding portion of all the legs, but in a much less highly developed way. The genual joints (especially of the first pair) are long and enlarge gradually to their fore extremities; in the first pair of legs this joint slightly exceeds the tibial joint in length, and is also stronger. The metatarsus is but half the length of the tibia, while the tarsus is nearly double its length and clavate |