and a neiv genus of Araneidea. 341 



the legs the lightest coloured. Each tarsus is terminated by 

 three claws ; the two superior ones are curved and minutely 

 pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base. Eyes 

 disposed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax ; those of the 

 posterior pair are wide apart, and form with those of the anterior 

 pair, which are the smallest and near to each other, a trapezoid 

 whose anterior side is much the shortest ; the eyes of each lateral 

 pair are placed obliquely, and are the largest of the eight. Palpi 

 red-brown, the radial and digital joints being much the darkest ; 

 the humeral joint is curved towards the cephalo-thorax, and the 

 cubital and radial joints are clavate, the latter, which is the 

 stronger^ projecting two apophyses from its extremity, the larger 

 situated in front, and the smaller on the under side ; the digital 

 joint is oval, convex and hairy externally, concave within^ com- 

 ])rising the palpal organs ; they are moderately developed, com- 

 plicated in structure, with a small curved spine, enveloped in 

 membrane, at their extremity, and are of a dark reddish brown 

 colour. The abdomen is oviform, sparingly clad with hairs, and 

 brownish black. The branchial opercula are yellowish brown. 



I have named this spider in compliment to James Hardy, Esq., 

 of Penmanshiel, Berwickshire, North Britain, whose various con- 

 tributions to entomology are duly appreciated by zoologists. It 

 was sent to me by ]\Ir. Hardy in December 1848, with other 

 specimens of Araneidea captured by him in Berwickshire. 



Family Epeirid^. 



Genus Epeira, Walck. 



6. Epeira signata. 



Length of an immature male f^ths of an inch ; length of the 

 cephalo-thorax -^^ ; breadth y'^ ; breadth of the abdomen -^^ ; 

 length of an anterior leg ^-^ ; length of a leg of the third pair ^^q. 



Eyes disposed in two transverse rows on the anterior part of 

 the cephalo-thorax ; the four intermediate ones form a square, 

 and each lateral pair is seated obliquely on a small prominence. 

 Cephalo-thorax convex, rounded on the sides, compressed before, 

 with an indentation in the medial line of the posterior region ; 

 it is well supplied with white hairs, particularly on the anterior 

 part, and is of a dark red-brown colour, which is most intense 

 on the sides ; a conspicuous yellowish white spot occurs in the 

 angle formed by the furrows which serve to distinguish the head 

 from the thorax. Fakes conical, vertical, and armed with two 

 rows of teeth on the inner surface ; they are of a rod- brown 

 colour, and are darkest at the base, in front. Maxilife short, 

 straight, enlarged and rounded at the extremity : lip nearly 

 semicircular, but somewhat pointed. Sternum heart-shaped. 



