Mr. J. Blackwall 0)i Sicilian Spiders. 403 



Family LiNYPHiiDJi:. 



Genus LiNYPHiA, Latr. 



LinypMa polita^ n. sp. PI. VIII. fig. 7. 



Length of the female -r^ of an inch ; length of the cephalo- 

 thorax -pB-j breadth -^ ; breadth of the abdomen -^-^ ; length of 

 an anterior leg \ ; length of a leg of the third pair \. 



The abdomen is oviform, convex above, projects a little over 

 the base of the cephalothorax, and slopes abruptly downwards 

 at its extremity ; the upper part is of a pale yellowish-white 

 colour reticulated with brown lines ; a black band, which 

 extends from its base along the middle, has its posterior half 

 broken into spots, the largest of which has a triangular form, 

 and is situated at the commencement of the posterior slope ; a 

 slightly curved brown band passes along the anterior half of 

 the upper part of each side ; and the inferior region of the sides 

 and the entire under part have a brownish-black hue ; the 

 sexual organs are well developed, slightly prominent, and of 

 a reddish-brown colour. The eyes are disposed on the ante- 

 rior part of the cephalothorax in two transverse rows ; the four 

 intermediate ones describe a trapezoid whose anterior side is 

 much the shortest, and the two posterior ones are the largest 

 of the eight ; the eyes of each lateral pair are seated obliquely 

 on a small tubercle, and are contiguous. The cephalothorax 

 is somewhat compressed before, rounded in front and on the 

 sides, convex, glossy, and of a reddish-brown colour, the sides 

 and base being much the darkest. The falces are long, 

 powerful, conical, vertical, slightly divergent at the extre- 

 mity, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and a red-brown 

 hue. The raaxillee are straight, the exterior angle at their 

 extremity is curvilinear, and they are of a reddish-yellow 

 colour. The lip is semicircular ; and the sternum is heart- 

 shaped. These parts are of a dark-brown colour, the apex of 

 the former and the median line of the latter being the palest. 

 The legs are long, provided with a few fine spines, and are of 

 a dull-yellowish hue ; the first pair is the longest, then the 

 second, and the third pair is the shortest ; each tarsus is ter- 

 minated by three claws ; the two superior ones are curved and 

 minutely pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near its 

 base. The palpi, which are slender, resemble the legs in 

 colour, and have a fine slightly curved claw at their extremity. 



Family EpeiRIDJE. 



Genus Epeira, Walck. 



Epeira apoclisa. 



Epeira apoclisa, Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. torn. ii. p. Gl ; Sund., 



