OCR Text |
Show 12 REV. O. PICKARD-CAMBRIDGE O N EXOTIC SPIDERS. [Jan. 15, Gen. nov. TITUS. Cephalothorax elongate-oval, rounded behind, broadly and a little roundly truncate before; lateral marginal impressions at the caput gradual but distinct; upper surface strongly convex ; from the fore part of the caput to the hinder slope the rise is strong, a little curved and even, with a very slight clip at the thoracic junction. The sides of the cephalothorax project over the bases of the legs, making them appear to be articulated on the same plane as the sternum. The thoracic indentation is very minute, and the other normal ones obsolete ; hinder slope steep ; height of the clypeus, which projects, is half that of the facial space, its fore margin overhanging the base of the falces. Eyes moderate and not greatly unequal in size ; in two transverse curved rows; the hinder row considerably longest, its eyes are very nearly equally separated, and the convexity of its curve is directed forwards, while that of the anterior row is backwards. The hind-lateral eyes are larger than the hind-centrals and are placed outside a strong tubercle ; those of the anterior row on a well-marked transverse prominence or ridge. The fore-centrals are very nearly if not quite of equal size, the interval between them being about double that which separates each from the fore-lateral eye on its side. The central quadrangle is slightly broader than long, and its anterior side shortest. Legs short, rather slender, 4, 1, 2, 3 ; the femora strongly clavate or tumid at their posterior end, furnished with hairs and spines ; two pairs of these are beneath the metatarsi and three pairs beneath tibiae of the first pair. Tarsi end with 2 claws. Palpi ( 2 )• The digital joint is double the length of the radial, rather claviform, and ending with a very minute, slightly curved single claw. Falces moderate in length, powerful, subcorneal. Maxilla' rather short, strong, straight, but inclined to the labium; rounded at their outer extremity, and a little impressed and obliquely truncate at their inner extremity. Labium short, broader than long, narrowest at the apex, the outer corners of which are rounded, aud the middle a little impressed. Sternum longer than broad, oval, slightly hollow-truncate in front, bluntish pointed behind, and its margins strongly indented by the basal joints of the legs. From the hinder end a chitinous plate runs between the coxa- of the fourth pair of legs and spreading out behind them joins in with the upperside of the cephalothorax. Abdomen short, broad, its upper surface covered with a strou^ kind of granulose coriaceous shield furnished with plumose and other hairs ; sides, especially backwards, protuberant and tumid, these parts connected behind by transverse rugae or folds, in the midst of which the spinners are placed and almost hidden in a circular cavity. |