MIMETUS. 409 
Fam. MIMETIDA. 
The genera here included in the family Mimetide differ from the Theridiide in 
having no row of serrate bristles beneath tarsus iv.; and from the Argyopide in having 
the tibiz and protarsi i. and ii. furnished on the inner side with a series of widely 
separate, very long spines, the interspaces being set with a row of smaller curved spines, 
increasing in length distally. 
Subfam. MIMETINA. 
The spiders belonging to this subfamily, including the well-known tropical genera 
Galena, OC. L. Koch, and Mimetus, Hentz, and the European genus Ero, C. L. Koch, are 
most probably the remnants of some very ancient group of which the majority have 
died out. Their most conspicuous character lies in the relatively greater length of the 
first two pairs of legs, whose tibiz and protarsi are furnished with a series of widely 
separate and very long spines, while the interspaces are set with a row of smaller, 
curved, and more closely situated spines, those of each row increasing in length distally. 
The mandibles in Galena and Mimetus are soldered together at the base and very 
simple in their armature. The colulus is present. 
The three genera occurring in Central America may be distinguished as follows :— 
GENERA. 
A. Sternum not produced between coxe iv. Tibi and protarsi 111. and iv. 
spinose. Central anterior eyes less than half their diameter from the 
laterals and larger in proportion . , ee eee 
B, Sternum produced between coxe iv. ‘Tibie and protarsi iii. and iv. 
almost entirely without spines. Central anterior eyes at least a full 
diameter from the laterals and smaller in proportion . . . . . . Gauena, C. L. Koch. 
Mimetus, Hentz. 
MIMETUS. 
Mimetus, Hentz, Amer. Journ. Sci. (1) xxi. p. 104 (1832). 
Type M. syllepsicus, Hentz. North America. 
The general characters of the spiders referred to Mimetus are very similar to those 
of Galena—the tibie and protarsi of the third and fourth pairs of legs being, however, 
clothed with long spines. The central anterior eyes are less than half their own 
diameter from the laterals, and are larger in proportion than is the case in Galena; 
the clypeus also being higher, slightly over one diameter of an anterior central eye. 
The sternum is not produced between cox iv., nor are the palpi in the male so long 
and slender as in Galena. Tarsal claws three; colulus present. 
BIOL, CENTR.-AMER., Arachn. Aran., Vol. LI., December 1902. . 36f 
