OCR Text |
Show 1874.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW DRASSIDES. 389 DRASSUS ENSIGER, sp. n. (Plate LI. fig. 14.) Adult male, length 3 lines. This species is of ordinary form and general structure, being nearly allied to Drassus troglodytes both in size, form, and colour; but it differs remarkably from that, as well as from all other species known to me, in the structure of the palpi and palpal organs. The cephalothorax is broadish oval, rather tapering before, i. e. narrowest at the caput and rather flattish above ; the normal grooves and furrows are fairly indicated, but the lateral impression at the caput is very slight; it is of a dark reddish yellow-brown colour, with a fine blackish marginal line, and converging dusky lines marking the segmental grooves. The eyes are of moderate size, and, except those of the fore central pair, of a pearly whiteness, narrowly edged with black ; their general position is ordinary, in two curved rows, the curves of which are directed backwards, forming a transverse curved oblong figure whose length is about double its width. The clypeus is low, apparently not exceeding one third of the facial space. The eyes of the hind central pair are oval, oblique, and near together, but not contiguous to each other, and each is separated from the lateral of the same row on its side by little if any more than the lateral eye's diameter ; those of each lateral pair are near to each other and placed a little obliquely, the interval between them is as nearly as possible equal to that which separates those of the hind central pair ; the four forming the foremost row are very near together, but not quite contiguous, those of the fore central pair being rather further from each other than each is from the lateral of the same row on its side, and the smallest of the eight. The legs are rather strong, a little paler in colour than the cephalothorax, and moderately long, their relative length being 4, 1, 2, 3 ; they are furnished with hairs, and those of the third and fourth pairs with spines, chiefly on the tibiae and metatarsi; each tarsus terminates with two strongly curved toothed claws, beneath which is a slight claw-tuft or scopula. The palpi are similar in colour to the legs, except the digital joint, which is dark reddish brown ; they are furnished with a few hairs and spines, and are of moderate length and rather strong; the cubital and radial joints are short; the latter is the shortest and has its fore extremity on the outer side produced into a long, slightly curved, gently tapering, deep-red-brown glossy apophysis of double the length of the joint itself, and ending in a point not far from the end of the digital joint. This apophysis in its length and simple form is a very marked feature, and makes the determination of the male of this species an easy matter. The digital joint is large, of an oval form, and exceeding in length the radial and cubital together. The palpal organs are well developed, and rather complex, and from a strongish lobe on their outer side near the middle issues a prominent, rather corkscrew-shaped, sharp-pointed spine. The falces are not large, but straight, very slightly projecting, and similar in colour to the cephalothorax. |