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Show 394 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON N E W DRASSIDES. [June 2, particulars as those which distinguish this latter species from D. agyptius, the difference, too, being similar. The falces in the present Spider more nearly resemble those of D. lapidicolens, being larger than those of D. agyptius, and projecting forwards instead of being nearly vertical. The radial joint of the palpus has no apophysis from its fore extremity, and had only one or two strongish spines at its fore extremity on the inner side; others, however, may have been rubbed off. The palpal organs are similar in their general form and processes , but the curved spine issuing from their base and running round the inner margin is stronger, the corneous prominence at their fore part is longer, stronger, and curved, and, instead of three spines in a transverse row beneath the fore part of the digital joint, there is in the present species only one strong spine. On the outer margin of the palpal organs are two longitudinal parallel reddish-brown lines, which rather converge and become serpentine or strongly convoluted at the hinder extremity. A single adult male was found by myself among the debris of a wall near Alexandria, in April 1864. DRASSUS AGYPTIUS, sp. n. (Plate LII. fig. 19.) Adult male, length 3| lines ; adult female, length 4\ lines. This species is very nearly allied to the well-known D. lapidicolens (Walck.). It is, however, smaller than the usual run of that species, and a paler and yellower Spider in its general colouring ; the cephalothorax wants the narrow black marginal line ; the spines on the legs are longer and slenderer; and the abdomen has not the longitudinal dark elongate marking on the fore half of its upperside, always more or less distinct on that of D. lapidicolens. The falces also, which are long and porrected in that species, are much shorter in the present and nearly vertical. A strong distinguishing character is (as usual) presented by the palpi and palpal organs of the male : the radial joint has its upper-side furnished with some long slender spines ; but it is destitute of any projection or apophysis at its fore extremity, which is a little broader than its hinder portion. The digital joint is narrow and elongate. The palpal organs, which occupy about half the length of its underside, consist of a nearly round pale lobe ; from near the inner side of the hinder extremity of this lobe a slender tapering black spine issues and curves round the outer margin in rather close contact with it, terminating in a fine point near its fore extremity; on the face of the lobe near the fore part is a very small blackish-brown tubercular eminence or short blunt spinous prominence ; and from its outer extremity before issues an obtusely ending prolongation directed inwards ; beneath the fore extremity of the digital joint, near the palpal organs, are three conspicuous and characteristic black spines, directed forwards and placed in a transverse line. The eyes are very similar, both in size and position, to those of D. lapidicolens; those, however, of the foremost row are rather nearer the fore margin of the caput, leaving a narrower clypeus than in that species. |