OCR Text |
Show 1874.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW DRASSIDES. 373 G. plumalis (Cambr.) and G. exornata (Koch), was received in a fine collection of spiders kindly made for me in the Bombay Presidency by Major Julian Hobson, H.M.S. Corps. GNAPHOSA PROCERA, sp. n. (Plate LI. fig. 2.) Adult male, length 4 lines (very nearly). This Spider, in size, general form, structure, colours, and markings, is exceedingly like G. cambridgii (Cambr. & Koch), G. lunata (Cambr.), G.kochii (Cambr.), and G.conspersa (Cambr.) (see "Spid. of Palestine and Syria," P. Z. S. 1872, pp. 227-230), but may be at once distinguished by the form of the palpi; these are rather short and strong. The radial is of the same length as the cubital joint, and there is but little difference in their strength ; the former has its outer extremity prolonged into a short, slightly bent, strongish, tapering, sharp-pointed, red-brown, corneous-looking apophysis, of about half the length of the joint itself, and contiguous to the base of the digital joint; these joints are furnished with hairs and strong bristles. The digital joint is large, and rather exceeds in length that of the radial and cubital together; its form is oval, gradually drawn out at its fore extremity. The palpal organs are well developed, and composed of various curved corneous spines and processes, not easy to be described differentially, but seen at a glance to be different on comparison with those of the other closely allied species ; one conspicuous spine issues from the middle near the base of the palpal organs, and, curving over round their inner side, terminates in a sharp point near their outer extremity. The cephalothorax is yellow, lightest towards the margins, which are bounded laterally by a black line; the sides have some blackish irregular markings; and two curved lines run backwards from the hind lateral eyes, converging to the thoracic junction. The legs, palpi, falces, maxilla, labium, and sternum are also yellow, the falces, however, being suffused with red-brown; and the digital joints of the palpi of a brownish hue. The abdomen is of a clear straw-yellow colour, marked above with small black spots and points ; those along the centre are mostly in parallel pairs, forming two irregular longitudinal rows ; others are more thickly scattered along the margins, whence some run over upon the sides in curved oblique rows ; and near the base of each of the superior and inferior spinners is a larger black spot or blotch, finishing on each side the two hinder oblique lateral rows; along the central line of the fore half is a rather tapering oblong yellow-brown marking. The underside is unspotted. The superior pair of spinners are small and short, less than one third the length of those of the inferior pair. The abdomen in the present species is more clearly and distinctly spotted, and less liable, apparently, to crowding, or to suffusion and running together than in the others. The female is rather larger than the male, but resembles it exactly in colours and markings ; the form of the genital aperture is exceedingly like that of the female of G. cambridgii ; and should the two species ever be found in the same locality, it will require great care |