METEPEIRA. 457 
6°. Protarsi i—iv. with spines beneath. Scapus of vulva 
more entirely fused to the base; lateral sclerites 
absent . ... . . woe ee ee whe) 6PARAWIXIA. 
- Abdomen without cusps or tubercles. 
°, Scapus of vulva fused to the basal portion; lateral 
sclerites absent . . . 2. . . + + + « « « «~ NeEoscona. 
6°. Scapus of vulva not fused to the basal portion ; 
lateral sclerites present . . . . - . . . . EHRropHora. 
METEPEIRA, gen. nov. 
Type M. spinipes, sp. n. Central America. 
¢~. No hook on coxa i. and no groove on femur ii. Coxe and femora of pedipalps without a coniform spur 
or ridge. Tibia ii. not incrassate nor with specialized spines. Patella of pedipalps with two apical 
spines. and @. Posterior central eyes two-thirds of a diameter apart, slightly smaller than the 
anterior centrals. Central quadrangle slightly narrower behind; anterior eyes one and one-eighth of a 
diameter apart. Posterior row slightly recurved ; laterals one-fourth of a diameter apart, distant from 
the posterior centrals nearly twice the space occupied by these latter. Boss at base of mandible very 
slight. Legs clothed with numerous long spines; femur i. presenting two rows of long spines beneath 
and numerous long spines on the inner side. Protarsus and tarsus i. longer than tibia and patella i. 
Sternum scarcely longer than broad. Upper and lower margins of fang-groove furnished with three 
teeth. Colulus present. 
In the male the bifid falciform process or “unca” of the palpal bulb is characteristic of the group. The 
palpus exhibits also the tarsal hook at the base of the tarsal sheath. 
In the female the vulva has a slender central scapus, recurved at its apex. 
oe 
The species referred to this genus form a small distinct group, which has more 
affinities with the Metine than with any other of the present subfamily. ‘The length 
of the protarsus and tarsus of leg i. brings them nearer also to the Argyopine. 
Owing to the necessity of publishing the diagnoses of subfamilies and genera before 
the material has been completely worked out in detail, the classification may need 
considerable modification. 
Males. 
1. Femur i. with a clustered group of seven or eight long spines on the 
apical half, in front ; four fine dorsal spines and a series of four or five 
very fine spines beneath. Femur ii. with one or two spines ora single 
series of four or five spines beneath. Shaft of unca of palpus as long 
or longer than the blade, more slender, the latter making a wider 
sweep. Lamina2of bulb smaller and more remote from the denticules 
of the anterior lobe. 
a. Shaft of unca less slender, not so long in proportion, the blade taking 
a narrower sweep. Femur i. without a long single series of spines 
beneath, besides the cluster in the apical half. Femur i. with a 
single spine, or sometimes two, beneath. . . . . . labyrinthea, Hentz. 
}. Shaft of unca much more slender and longer in proportion, the blade 
taking a much wider sweep. Femur i. with a single long series 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Arachn. Aran., Vol. II., November 1903. 3 Nf 
