292 ARANEIDEA. 
other than to the hind-laterals, from which they are separated by about a diameter. The fore-centrals 
are separated by nearly half a diameter, and by rather more than half from the fore-laterals. The 
central quadrangle is scarcely longer than broad, but its anterior side is shorter than the posterior side. 
Legs moderate in strength and length, apparently 4, 1, 2, 3, furnished with hairs and a very few slender erect 
bristles, one on the genue being almost a spine. 
Falces long, strong, divergent, the extremities rather pinched, armed with a row of teeth along the outer 
margin of the upperside, and a very strong tooth near their fore extremity on the inner side. Fang long 
and strong. 
The palpi have a longish, subclavate, rather bent humeral joint, along the outer side of which, and a little 
beneath the lower part, are a few small tooth-like tubercles in a longitudinal line, each surmounted by a 
short hair, and beneath the fore extremity of the short somewhat clavate cubital joint is a short 
prominence or point, or rudimentary spur. 
Maxille moderately long, strong, broad, especially towards their base, which is massive, prominent, and 
rounded, much inclined towards the labium. 
Sternum broad, truncated heart-shape, nearly or quite as long as broad ; posterior extremity a little abruptly 
produced between the coxee of the fourth pair of legs, where it bends upwards in a broadish obtuse 
ending. 
Mermessus dentiger, sp. n. 
Adult male, length 1 line. 
Cephalothorax yellow-brown. 
Legs dull brownish-yellow. 
Paipi similar to the legs in colour. Radial joint short, with long, strong bristles on the outer side, broad at its 
extremity, which is divided into some strong prominences—one in front towards the outer side broad, 
obtuse, and with a small dark point at its inner corner ; another, strong, pointed, dentiform, towards the 
inner side, and another stronger, obtusely pointed, beneath. The digital joint is of good size, with a 
large lobe at its base on the inner side. Palpal organs complex, with prominent lobes and spiny 
processes. 
Falces similar in colour to the cephalothorax. 
Mazille, labium, and sternum dark yellow-brown. 
Abdomen oval, dark dull brown, covered thinly with short hairs; a strong semicircular fissure underneath, 
close in front of the spinners, which are short, compact, and of a dull yelléw-brown colour. 
Hab. Guatemata (Sarg). 
METTUS*, gen. nov. (fam. Theridiide). 
Cephalothoraw round-oval, nearly as broad as long; thorax gibbous or elevated, sloping gradually to the 
ocular area, which is rather elevated and a little prominent, its fore extremity subconical; normal 
indentations slight. 
Eyes unequal in size; those of the posterior row and the fore-laterals nearly equal, in a compact transverse 
quadrate group occupying the whole of the well-marked ocular area, those of the posterior row largest, 
in a straight line, equidistant, very near together, but not quite contiguous to each other; those of the 
anterior row, which is nearly as long as the posterior row, form a curved line whose slight convexity is 
directed forwards ; the fore-central pair are smallest and separated by 1 ss than a diameter from each 
other, and by about an equal distance from the fore-laterals. The central quadrangle is rather longer 
than broad, and its anterior side is much the shortest; the eyes of each lateral pair are well separated 
from each other. Clypeus very strongly impressed at its upperside, and obtusely prominent at the lower 
margin ; its height is equal to half that of the facial space. 
* Nom. propr. 
