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from the Lower Amazons d.c. 53 



(i.) Introduction. 



The following pages contain descriptions of a new genus 

 and twentj-two new species of spiders, one male new to 

 science of a species already described, and notice of two forms 

 renamed, since the original names were bestowed on forms of 

 wliose identity we have now no real clue. 



Of the new species thirteen, not including the new male 

 form, have been placed provisionally under the generic name 

 Ctenus ; for five species the new genus Lycoctenus lias been 

 established, containing three-clawed Dolomedine forms ; one 

 new species has been added to Keyserling's genus Steno- 

 ctenus, in all probability congeneric with Labdacns, O. Cambr. ; 

 one new species has been added to this latter genus and two 

 to the genus AcanthoctenuSj Keys. 



The two forms referred by Count Keyserling to Phoneutria 

 rufiharhis and P. fera, Perty, sub Ctenus, have been re-named 

 Pertyi and Keyserlingii respectively. The original descrip- 

 tions and figures of rufiharhis and fera given by Perty leave 

 no real clue to the particular forms he iiad before him, and 

 there is no alternative other than re-naming the two forms 

 which Keyserling referred to Perty's names. 



As to the real character of the original genus Ctenus, 

 Walck., with its type G. dubius, Wlk., there is room for 

 much doubt. In 1884 M. Simon records the existence of 

 this type in the Museum at Paris, but now (October 1896j he 

 regrets to say that tliis type, as well as tliose of other of 

 W'alckenaer's " Ctenida?/' have entirely disappeared. M. Si- 

 n)on, in 1884, says that Walckenaer's Ctenus was congeneric 

 with those included under that name by Keyserling. One of 

 Keyserling's species — C. boyotensis — however, is a three- 

 clawed form, entering the family Lycosidas or Pisauridie 

 according to M. iSimon's more recent classification ; wiiile 

 another of Keyserling's species of Ctenus is congeneric with 

 M. Simon's own genus Cupicnnius, 1891, which, however, he 

 has lately kindly informed me will fall into Ctenus according 

 to his present characterization of the latter. 



Of spiders collected in the Amazons Valley during the 

 expedition in Mr. Alexander Siemens's S.S. ' Faraday,' I am 

 able to record therefore ten new species and one new genus, 

 while desciiptions of twelve other new species have been 

 added, all from South and Central America, except C. minimus 

 from North xVmerica. 



No attempt has been made to determine the exact syste- 

 matic position of the three groups into which the " cteniform " 

 spiders fall — a matter which is still iu hot dispute amongst 



