204 | ARANEIDEA. 
indentation somewhat rounded and rather deep. The colour of the cephalothorax is yellow-brown, the 
sides and caput suffused with blackish-brown. 
yes of tolerable and nearly equal size ; fore-centrals smallest ; those of the central quadrangle seated round the 
base of a strong hemispherical prominence, the quadrangle being rather longer than broad. The curve 
of the posterior row is slight, and its convexity, looked at from above and behind, is directed forwards ; 
the intervals between the eyes of this row are equal, being rather more than half the diameter of the 
hind-centrals ; those of each lateral pair are placed slightly obliquely on a strongish tubercle and nearly 
contiguous to each other. The interval between the fore-centrals is a diameter, and each is separated 
. from the fore-lateral on its side by a very small but distinct interval. 
Legs not very long, moderately strong, 1, 4, 2,3. Their colour is yellow, the fore half of the femora and 
tibia and the genue dark brown. The anterior portion of the tibie is slightly and gradually incrassated, 
forming a noticeable contrast to the slender, cylindric form of the metatarsi. The legs are furnished 
with hairs only. 
Palpi short, slender, of a dull yellowish colour suffused with dusky, and terminating with a bent claw, 
furnished on its inner side with 2-3 slender pectinations. . 
Falces moderate in length, rather projecting forwards, weak, tapering; similar in colour to the cephalo- 
thorax. 
Maxille and labiwm normal, and with the sternum of a yellow-brown hue. 
Sternum much longer than broad, narrow, heart-shaped, posterior extremity broad and rounded, the interval 
between the coxee of the fourth pair of legs being equal to the width of the joint. 
Abdomen oval, upper convexity considerable but not excessive ; upperside black, containing, from end to end, 
a large pale somewhat angulated or frondose area, minutely speckled with white ; along the centre of this 
are some black spots and markings, one a little way above the spinners is distinctly cruciform, and above 
that again is a transverse black line, angulated and traversing the whole of the pale area. The underside 
is of a dull hue, with a broad longitudinal central brown band, margined on each side with a whitish 
line. The genital aperture is small and of simple but characteristic form. 
Hab. Mexico, Teapa in Tabasco (//. H. Smith). 
Theridion rostratum, sp. n. 
Adult female, length 13 lines. 
Cephalothoraw short-oval; profile somewhat uniformly curved to the anterior eyes; a slight angle at the 
beginning of the hinder slope. Caput rather prominent; clypeus much impressed below the eyes, but 
prominent in a drawn-out flattish, obtuse, beak-like form at its lower margin; its height appears to be 
about half that of the facial space; lateral marginal impressions at the caput slight. Colour yellow- 
brown, the upper part of the caput and the sides of the thorax suffused and marked with black-brown ; 
in some examples a distinct oblong black-brown band includes the eyes, and ends at the beginning of the 
posterior slope, and the dark lateral margins are better defined. 
Eyes of moderate size, subequal, occupying the whole of the fore extremity of the caput and forming a broad 
transverse oval figure; the anterior row is the most curved, the convexity of its curve directed forwards, 
that of the posterior row backwards; the four centrals form a right-angled quadrangle, whose length is 
rather greater than its width; the interval between the hind-central pair is slightly greater than a 
diameter, and each is rather nearer to the hind-lateral eye on its side than they are to each other. The 
fore-centrals are separated by a diameter’s interval, and each is divided from the fore-lateral eye on its 
side by a small but distinct interval. Those of each lateral pair are placed slightly obliquely on tubercles, 
and are contiguous to each other; all excepting the fore-central pair are of a bright pearly hue. 
Legs rather short, 1, 4, 2, 3, moderately strong, not very unequal in length; colour dull orange-yellow-brown, 
annulated broadly but not vividly with blackish-brown; furnished with hairs only, a few being erect and 
of a bristly nature. 
Palpi rather stout, similar to the legs in colour and markings, and terminating with a strongish, curved, and 
strongly pectinated claw. 
Falces weak, similar in colour to the cephalothorax. 
Mawille and labiwm normal, and similar to the cephalothorax in colour. 
