Arachnida, etc. 157 



the anterior border between them. Tergal plates finely and closely 

 covered with sqiiamiform gi'anules, each half transversely oblong- 

 and about four times as wide as long, a row of setifcrous tubercles 

 along the posterior margin, and two close together, one on each 

 side of the middle line, and a few smaller scattered about ; the 

 whole abdomen narrow, nearly parallel-sided, posteriorly rounded. 

 Sterna at most coriaceous ; coxae and maxillcic smooth. 



Chelce with humerus and brachium finely granvilar, sparsely 

 setose ; humerus subcylindrical, about three times as long as wide ; 

 brachium elliptical, elongate, also about three times as long as wide, 

 scarcely longer and only a little thicker than the humerus ; hand 

 smooth, much wider than brachium, an elongate oval, nearly twice 

 as long as broad, and about as long on the brachium ; considerably 

 longer than the movable digit. Process on tip of movable digit of 

 mandille straight and cylindrical at base, curved slightly outwards 

 towards the apex, where it ends in three short finger-like processes 

 and a short thumb - like projection, the whole structure much 

 resembling a four-fingered human hand. 



Total length of body, 3 mm. 



Our knowledge of the Oriental species of this group is still in its 

 infancy, and the species here described will very likely be redis- 

 covered in Burma, Sumatra, or Java, but it apparently differs from 

 all the Indo- Malayan species described by Thorell (Ann. Mus. 

 Geneva, xxvii, pp. 591-606). For example, C. hirmanicus has no 

 trace of eyes and is quite smooth. C. orites, also from Burma, is 

 allied to C. javanus in being smooth and in having the carapace 

 entire. C. sumatranus has a different flagellum ; and, lastly, both 

 C. hansenii and C. Msidcus from Burma have the eyes veiy distinct, 

 and not mere pale intcgumental patches, hmdcus in addition being- 

 smooth. C. hansenii, on the contrary, except so far as the eyes are 

 concerned, is certainly nearly allied to C. murrayi, but differs also 

 in the structure of the setfe and of the mandibular flagellum (see 

 Thorell's figures, op. cit., pi. v, fig. 8). 



The three species of Cheliferidse obtained in Christmas Island 

 may be determined as follows : — 



a. Carapace without eyes, but with two very strong transverse 

 grooves ; integument of dorsal surface coarsely granular, 

 the bristles short and thickly clavate ; coxse of posterior 

 legs enlarged ; abdomen very broad . . claviger, Thor. 

 h. Carapace with a pair of pale ocelliform patches, and at most 

 one transverse groove ; integument smooth, or at most 

 very finel}'- granular ; bristles simple ; coxce of fourth 

 leg not enlarged ; abdomen narrow. 

 a}. Integument shining, smooth ; carapace without trans- 

 verse sulcus ; chelae much stouter . javamis, Thor. 

 h\ Integument finely and closely granular; carapace with 

 a strong transverse groove defining the cephalic area; 

 chelae much thinner murrayi, sp.n. 



