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Show 1873.] GENERA AND SPECIES OF ARANEIDEA. 123 which form the front of the large quadrangle ; and these four eyes are about equally separated from each other. A great similarity may be observed in the position of the eyes of this Spider to those of Spiders of the genus Eresus, though there is no near affinity at all between them in other respects, belonging, indeed, as they do, to a widely distant family ; the height of the clypeus equals half that of the facial space. The legs are long and slender, of an orange-yellow colour, except the tarsi, which, as well as the outer sides of the genual, tibial, and metatarsal joints, are of a whitish cream-colour; those of the second pair are a little longer than those of the first, and those of the third pair are much the shortest; they are furnished sparingly with hairs and a very few fine spines ; each tarsus terminates with two curved pectinated claws, beneath which is a small scopula. The palpi are short, and similar in colour to the legs: the radial and cubital joints are very short but of equal length ; the former is strongest and has a small pointed spine-like apophysis at its outer extremity ; the digital joint is large and of a flattish broad oval form pointed in front. The palpal organs are simple and encircled by a black filiform spine ; and another short one has its prominent point near the point of the radial apophysis. Falces short, moderately strong, straight, and nearly vertical, and similar in colour to the cephalothorax. The maxillee and labium are of a rather paler hue. Sternum heart-shaped and yellow. The abdomen is double the length of the cephalothorax, and narrow, the hinder portion being the broadest and rather rounded; the sides and middle of the upperside are shrunken in or constricted ; it is very sparingly clothed with hairs; and its colour is dull pale yellow obscurely marked with blackish brown on the fore part and sides, with some transverse slightly angular lines or narrow bars of the same colour across the hinder part of the upperside ; there are also some curved oblique rows of pale spots on the sides, formed by small tufts of pale hairs ; these are less conspicuous in the male than in the female. On either side of the hinder part of the abdomen near the spinners is a large round conspicuous black spot; the spinners are six in number, rather large, not long, those of the inferior pair being the largest. The female is rather larger, but in colours and markings resembles the male. Of this curious and anomalous-looking Thomisid, which might be easily mistaken at first sight for one of the Salticides, several examples (including both sexes) were received from Ceylon, from Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites. Fam. THERIDIIDES. Genus PHORONCIDIA (Westw.). PHORONCIDIA THWAITESII. Phoroncidia thwaitesii, Cambr. Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. x. p. pl. 9. figs. 17-21. Since the publication of the description and figures of the female |