120 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



Fam. Thomisid^.— Ornithoscatoipes. 



4 



CephalotJiorax short, broad, as broad or broader tlian long, moderately 

 convex above and slightly tuberculosc; caput short, truncate in front, and 

 strongly compressed on its lateral margins. 



Jiycs in two curved rows, the anterior shortest (the convexity of the 

 curves directed forwards, and forming a crescent) ; small, not' greatly 

 differing in size, but the four laterals are largest, and the four centrals 

 smallest ; those of the lateral pairs are seated on or at the base of tuber- 

 culose eminences. 



Falces strong, not very long, conical, and nearly vertical. 



Maxillm moderatrly long and strong, a little wider at the top than in 

 the middle; rounded at the top on the cuter side, and slightly leaning 

 over the lallum, which is about half the length of the maxillte, and of a 

 somewhat oblong form rounded at the ajjex. 



Stevnurr, oblong-oval. 



Legs strong, moderately long, 1, 2, 4, 3 ; tho.^e of the first and second 

 pairs much the strongest and longest, but nearly equal in length ; those 

 also of the third and fourth pairs are nearly of equal length and strength. 

 All are somewhat roughenerl or tuberculose, especially those of the first 

 two pairs, and furnished with spines of varied length and strength ; those 

 on the tibife and metatarsi of the two anterior pairs are strongest tho 

 cngest formmg two parallel longitudinal rows beneath the joints. The 

 legs termniate with two strong, curved, pectinated claws, beneath which 

 is a small claw-tuft. Among the spines are one or two not very long, 

 rather strong, of a pale colour or semi-diaphanous appearance, on the 

 upper sides of the femora ; these spines have a peculiar function as 

 observed in one of the species, and may very possibly be of generic value, 

 tbougli spines of various sizes arc found similarly situated in many 

 other Thomisid genera, while their special function (if any) has not been 

 yet observed, so far as I am aware, in other instances. 



Thepalpl terminate with a single pectinated claw. 



Ahdome7i hroadeT Miind than in front and truncated at both extemities; 

 the upper surface and hinder part more or less thickly covered with 

 round or subcorneal, shining, or other tubercular elevations. The spin- 

 ners are short, stout, and closeh grouped within a somewhat circular 

 E drill ""*^*"^'^ ^^'^-^^ resembiing the disposition of those of many 



OllNITHOSACATOiDrS DECIPIENS. 



Thomisiis decifnens -Foyles, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 586, pi. LI. Adult female, 

 length rather above 6 J lines. 



The general colour Of this spider is a hoary or yellowish ashy grey 

 marked with black The abdomen has a large, somewhat quadrate black 

 patch at the middle of its hinder extremity; on this patch arc placed 

 eight shining roundish dark-broivn tubercles; the four laigest form a 

 transverse, unequally-sided parallelogram at the fore part of the black 

 patch ; the other four, which are much the smallest, form a longer trans- 

 verse parallelogram immediately behind the other. At the hinder part 

 also, oa either side of the shining tubercles, arc several strong tuberculi- 

 form eminences or prominences, of a similar kind to which are also four 

 small ones m a transverse line at the extreme fore margin ; some other 

 depressed spots or pits are also disposed on the upper surface, with a 

 dark blackish suffused patch at the middle of the anterior extremitv, and 

 another on each side just in front of tho foremost lateral eminence ' 



