ANDRASTA.—ARGYRODES. 193 
Eyes rather large and subequal, those of the posterior row in the male in a straight line; in the female the 
line is very slightly curved, the convexity of the curve directed forwards. The four centrals form an 
oblong figure ; the fore-central pair are very near together, but not contiguous to each other, the interval 
being a little less than that which separates each from the fore-lateral eye on its side; the hind-centrals 
are also very near but not contiguous to each other, and each is separated from the hind-lateral on its 
side by about double (or rather more) the interval which separates it from the hind-central next to it. 
Palpi (of male) moderately long; cubital and radial joints very short, and presenting no marked feature ; 
digital joint large, palpal organs very large, prominent, and highly developed, consisting of an enormous, 
roundish lobe or bulb at the base, with a congeries of black corneous processes beneath the fore extre- 
mity. The palpi of the female are destitute of any terminal claw. 
Falees, maxille, and labiwm dull orange-yellowish. 
Abdomen large, globular, white, with an irregular, elongate, black band or patch on each side of the upper 
part, leaving a somewhat angulated, large, white, tapering, longitudinal band between; this band is 
whiter than the rest, and has often an irregular, broken, black, central, longitudinal stripe on it. In 
some specimens these black markings are more or less obsolete. 
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (H. H. Smith). 
My. Smith has the following note on this species :—“ Glen, near a stream, on foliage ; 
web geometrical, perpendicular, very coarse-meshed (twelve or thirteen radiating lines), 
and supported by long lines; about five inches in diameter; the spider in the centre.” 
This description of its habits is very important, as the female has no terminal palpal 
claw, and though in many essential characters the spider is very close to the 
Theridiide, it is yet an orbicular web-spinner, forming with a few other congeners a 
connecting-link with the true Epeirids. 
ARGYRODES, Simon. 
Argyrodes argenteo-maculata, sp. n. 
Adult male, length very slightly over 1 line. 
The general form of the cephalothoraa is of the ordinary type ; clypeus roundly protuberant in the middle, 
the lower part of the protuberance somewhat of a peaked form, of a deep blackish-brown colour. 
Eyes in two transverse strongly curved rows, the posterior row least curved ; the fore-central pair on a strong 
prominence, wide apart, and largest of the eight, and with the hind-central pair form very nearly a 
square whose posterior side is a little the shortest ; the interval between the hind-central pair is greater 
than that between each and the hind-lateral on its side. 
Legs slender, first pair greatly the longest, 1, 4, 2, 3, clothed only with short fine hairs, which are of a dark 
brown hue; the two short basal joints, the lower extremities of the femora, the tarsi, and metatarsi are 
yellow, the greater part of the femora of the third and fourth pairs being yellow. 
Palpi short, yellow, excepting the digital joint, which is dark brown; cubital joint short, bent, claviform ; 
radial joint shorter and produced in an obtusely-ending form at its outer extremity, which is in close 
proximity to and of the same colour as the digital joint; this joint is of moderate size, clothed with coarse 
hairs, and of an oval form. The palpal organs are compact and simple, presenting no noteworthy 
features. 
Falces long, moderately strong, straight, conical, and with the mawille, labium, and sternwm (which are of a 
normal character) of a dark yellow-brown colour. Sternum triangular and convexly prominent. 
Abdomen large, exceedingly and globularly elevated above, and with a distinct corneous rim round the inser- 
tion of the connecting pedicle; of a deep black or black-brown colour, with a large well-defined, some- 
what triangular, silvery, shining patch on each side; the upper angles of the two patches slightly curved 
and almost meeting at the middle of the upperside ; a round silvery spot on each side of the hinder extre- 
mity above the spinners, and two other spots close together some way above the others, in the median 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Arachn. Aran., October 1896. 2 cf 
