98 T. THORELL, 
main among the species of WALCKENAERS Theridium. — SIMON classes as 
Asagenæ several spiders, which according to SUNDEVALL'S definition of this 
genus can in no wise belong to it. 
The claws of the typical species are strong. The superior tarsal 
claws are rather strongly curved, broader towards their base, pectinated, with 
(on the 1“ pair of legs) about 10 long, straight, parallel teeth from the base 
to near the extremity of the claw, which thus form a dense comb; the inferior 
claw has one very thick and blunt tooth and a fine point behind it. The 
female’s strong, much curved palpus-claw is in the same manner as the su- 
perior claws of the tarsus closely pectinated, with about 12 very long teeth 
pointing somewhat forward. 
* Gen. 19. PHOLCOMMA xx. 
Deriv.: Pholcus, generic name of spider (godxdc, squint-eyed); ouua, eye. 
Syn.: 1862. Theridion CamBr., Descr. of ten new spec. of Brit. spid., (ad part.:) p. 7962. 
Type: Pholcomma projectum (CAMBR.). 
I have not seen the species, on which I have founded this new ge- 
nus, but the excellent description given by CAMBRIDGE (loc. cit) leaves no 
doubt of its differing more from 7heridium sensu strict. than any of the spe- 
cies that have been removed from that and referred to newer genera. Caw- 
BRIDGE says himself: "The extreme dissimilarity in size between the two 
"centre eyes of the front row, and the rest, and their position, is a striking 
"characteristic of the species, and would almost warrant its separation from 
"the genus Theridion”. According to CAMBRIDGE, the two centre eyes of 
the front row are very minute, almost contiguous; on each side of these is 
a group of three almost contiguous eyes, in the form of an equilateral tri- 
angle. The eyes of these two groups are disproportionably large compared 
with the size of the spider. The male has a projecting ridge round the 
abdomen. "By the position of the eyes this species seems to be allied to 
"the genus Pholcus, though in general form and appearance it is much more 
"like the true Theridia” (CAMBR.). 
Fam. II. SCYTODOID E. 
Syn.: 1864. ”Scytodiformes” Srw., H. N. d. Araignées, p. 43. 
As regards the proper place for the very peculiar spiders, that we 
bring together under this name, opinions have been, and süll are, very 
much divided. The types of the two sub-families, Pholcinæ and Scytodine , 
