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Show 1899.] AND SPIDERS FROM TROPICAL WEST AFRICA. 859 Legs short; patella and tibia of 1st less than width of head. Abdomen without inferior tubercle; the anterior lateral spines minute and lying far back behind the middle of the scutum and justin front of the posterior laterals, from the supporting prominence of which, however, they are separated by a rounded notch ; the anterior border lying between these anterior spinules widely and nearly evenly convex, forming an almost completely semicircular arch defined by the normal 10 sigilla, of which the 4 medians form a straight transverse line ; posterior lateral spines erect, very short, but borne upon the summit of a thick cylindrical prominence, the axis of which cuts that of the spines at an obtuse angle; posterior spines resembling the posterior laterals, but their axis in a line with that of the prominence and directed straight backward. Measurements in millimetres.-Total length of abdomen along middle line 6; width just in front of anterior spinule 9*5 ; width from tip to tip of postero-lateral spine 8. Loc. Benito Biver (67. L. Bates). This species seems to form a new section of the genus Gasteracantha. GASTERACANTHA (^ETROCANTHA) ROGERSI O. P. Cambr. Gasteracantha rogersi, O. P. Cambr. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 292, fig. 23 Gasteracantha (JEtrocantha) semiflava, Simon, Ann. Soc Ent. Fr. 1887, p. 268, pl. vi. fig. 2 ( $). Loc. Sierra Leone. Described from Assinie by M. E. Simon, and from Coanza by O. P. Cambridge. GASTERACANTHA (ISOXIA) PENIZOIDES Simon. Lsoxia penizoides, Simon, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1887, p. 269, pl. vi. fig. 4. Loc. Benito Biver (67. L. Bates). Becorded by Simon from Assinie. The foregoing species of Gasteracantha may be tabulated as follows:- a. Lower side of abdomen with large conical tubercle; spines large. a}. Anterior and median spines subequal and in contact connata. b1. Anterior and median spines unequal and widely separated. a'2. Spines with strong recurvature ... curvispina. b2. Spines not or scarcely recurved formosa. b. Lower side of abdomen without tubercle; spines absent or short. a3. Spines present. a4. Anterior border of abdomen widely convex; anterior spines lying far back close to and much smaller than the median spines ; head tuberculate above batesi. b4. Anterior and lateral borders of abdomen cutting at right angles the anterior spines, as large as the medians and widely separated from them ; head not tubercidate rogersi. bs. Spines absent; abdomen widely rounded behind penizoides. |