466 ARANEIDEA. 
NEOSCONA. 
Neoscona, E. Simon, Hist. Nat. Araign. i. p. 261 (1864). 
Type WV. arabesca (Walck.). North America. 
3 
Q. 
. Coxa i. with a hook and femur ii. with a groove; a tubercle above coxa i. Coxa and femur of pedipalp 
with a coniform spur and chitinous ridge respectively. Tibia ii. incrassate, especially towards the base, 
with four long spines set close together in the basal third on the underside longitudinally, the two 
anterior spines being shorter; near these are 5 or 6 short, stout, dentiform spines: on the inner side 
throughout its whole length are 30-40 short, stout, dentiform spines, set in two irregularly paired series, 
their apices directed upwards; on the upper part of the inner side are two long spines at the base, 
followed by two shorter spines and one much longer one; on the central dorsal line are three long 
spines. Protarsus ii. with two specialized spines at the base on the inner side. Femora i, with an 
irregular double series of spines (9-7) beneath ; ii. with a double series of 10-9; and iii. and iv. with a 
single series beneath (variable in different species). Patella of pedipalp with two long apical spines. 
Tarsal sheath with a well-developed uncus at its base. Lateral eye-groups not placed on a prominent 
tubercle, situated behind the anterior margin of the base of the mandible. Central anterior eyes 
prominent, but not conspicuously so. Posterior row of eyes slightly recurved, anterior row also recurved, 
the centrals being nearer to the margin of the clypeus. Quadrangle slightly narrower behind, slightly 
longer than broad. Posterior centrals half a diameter apart; central anteriors nearly one diameter 
apart, the four eyes of the quadrangle being subequal. Lateral eyes almost in contact. Coxe and 
trochanters ii—iv. without spines; coxa iv. with a conical spur (absent in some species). Genital bulb 
large, with the various organs closely grouped, having no apparent cymbium, but a small clavis on the 
outer side, bearing a tooth on the anterior portion, and two other apophyses, an embolus, and a lamelliform 
conductor at the apex. Carapace having the anterior lateral margin on each side much developed, forming 
a rounded shoulder, abruptly widening out from the cephalic portion, which is gradually narrowed to the 
central anterior eyes: this extension of the margin is developed to meet and support the much enlarged 
tubercle on the base of coxa i. above and to bear the strain when in use during copulation. Sternum 
nearly twice as long as broad. 
Eyes practically the same as in the g; the eye-groups being much less prominent. Lower margin of 
fang-groove with 3, the upper with 4 teeth. Legs very spinose ; femora i—iv. with a double series of 11 
or 12 spines. Protarsi i. and ii. with numerous spines beneath. Carapace not convex behind the eyes. 
Sternum slightly longer than broad. Colulus present. Vulva having the scapus and atriolum fused to 
form a single piece, more or less concave above towards the apex. Abdomen elongate-oval, without 
shoulder- or other tubercles. Abdominal pattern characteristic, consisting of a broad, white, triangular, 
anterior, central, dorsal patch, followed to the apex by a narrow, white, tapering, central band, having a 
series of four or five conspicuous, black, oblique, oval spots on each side. 
The above diagnosis is drawn from examples which I identify as WV. vertebrata 
(McCook), the female of which is identical with that of the type of N. oasxacensis 
(Keyserl.) now before me. 
The vulva is of the type in which the scapus and base and lateral sclerites are fused 
together and infolded beneath, with a concave cochlea at its apex. 
N. theis (Walck.) and N. cooksoni (Butl.) are so closely allied to the Central- 
American forms that I have added descriptions and figures of both for comparison. 
a. 
Males. 
Coxa iv. with a coniform spur beneath. 
a’. Tibia ii. with a double, in places treble, series of from 30-40 short, 
stout, curved spines on the inner side. Basal portion of underside of 
tibia il. with, besides the two long basal spines, a group of 7 or 8 
