468 ARANEIDEA. 
B. Femora i—iv. almost entirely devoid of spines beneath, but with the 
normal anterior median dorsal spines. Abdomen triangular-oval, broad 
anteriorly, or uniformly oval-circular. 
a’, Abdomen triangular-oval, broad anteriorly. 
a’. Vulva, seen from above, not transversely broad at base, nor elongate- 
triangular. Median ventral white spot not connected with the band 
across the genital rima. 
a‘. Vulva basally narrower, longer, distinctly geniculate in the 
spatulate apical portion. Spatula elongate, narrow, its reflexed 
margins connivent behind . . . . . . + + + + + + + bemjamina. 
b‘. Vulva basally broader, much shorter, not apically geniculate. 
Spatula almost circular, its reflexed margins wide apart, divergent 
behind. . . .. . we le . 2 « « « orizabensis, sp. n. 
b’. Vulva, seen from above, transversely broad at base, elongate- 
triangular. Median ventral spot connected laterally with the band 
across the genitalrima . . . ~~... +. + + + + + + + volucripes, Keys. 
b*. Abdomen uniformly oval. 
a’. Spatula of vulval scapus more or less strongly and marginally dilate 
at its base on each side, then constricted . . . . . . . . [theis.] 
b°. Spatula of vulval scapus not or scarcely marginally dilate on each 
side, not constricted behind the dilatation. 
a°®. Scapus of vulva longer ; spatula much narrower where the reflexed 
margins blend into the base. . . . . . - + se arabesca. 
6°. Scapus of vulva shorter; spatula much broader where the reflexed 
margins blend into the base. . . . . . . «se « + + «monima. 
Nore.—It is quite possible that with fresh examples some of the variations in colour might be found useful 
for distinguishing the species; but one cannot be sure that the ventral white spots are constant. peira 
pratensis, Emerton, evidently belongs to this group, but having no authentic examples before me I cannot 
give the differential characters ; his figures and description are insufficient for the purpose. 
1. Neoscona oaxacensis. (Tab. XLIV. figg. 4, 4a-e, ¢; 5, 5a-c, 2.) 
Epeira oaxacensis, Keyserl. Sitzungsb. nat. Ges. Isis, Dresden, 1863, p. 121, t. 5. figg. 15, 16(?) °. 
Epeira oaxensis (sic), Keyserl. Spinn. Amer., Epeiride, p. 238, t. 12. figg. 178, 178 a (9) °. 
Epeira vertebrata, McCook, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1888, p. 196, figg. 6-10°; Amer. Spid. i. pp. 74, 
120, 248, 252, 298‘; ii. pp. 26, 334°; iii. p. 151, t. 3. fige. 4 (¢), 5 (9), t. 4 figg. 1, 
la-e (¢), t. 5. figg. 4, 4a-e (g)°; Banks, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (8) i. p. 2547. 
Type, 2, of WV. oaxacensis, in Mus. Brit.; type g,gynetype 9, of NV. vertebrata, in coll. McCook. Total length, 
g 12, 9 17 millim. 
3. For the general characters of this species, see the generic diagnosis. The chief specific characters to be 
noted are the sharp cone on coxa iv., which it shares in common with JV. conifera; the double series of 
30-40 short stout spines on the inner side, and the two long spines and seven or eight short spines on 
the, underside, of tibia ii.; and the dilate form of the apex of the clavis of the genital bulb. 
9. Carapace yellow-brown, with central and submarginal brown bands ; sternum black, with a central yellow 
line. Legs orange-brown ; tibis, protarsi, and tarsi yellow, the tarsi black at the apex only, the other 
segments with a basal, median, and apical annulus. Abdomen elongate-oval, very variable in colour; dorsal 
