DKSCIMl'TJON OP GENERA AND SPECIES. 229 



are separated from s SF by a little more than their area. The front row is slightly recurved; 

 the rear row strongly procurved. The clypeus margin is distant from MF by two or more 

 diameters. 



ABDOMEN: Elongated oval, much longer than wide; thickest at the base, where it over- 

 hangs the cephalothorax, narrowing at the apex to a caudal part. The spinnerets are 

 placed a little short of the middle point of the venter (Fig. lla), which is drawn downward 

 somewhat into a subtriangular shape. The color and pattern of the folium are indistinct in 

 the specimen, but the latter appears to be a median ribbon of brown color extending quite 

 from the base to the apex, with a narrow border of yellow on either side. Beyond this 

 again upon the dorsum is a belt of brown, succeeded by a mottled band of yellow, and 

 still lower upon the belly a broader band of blackish brown. The ventral pattern is a long 

 brownish ribbon extending between the spinnerets and the epigynum, bordered by the 

 yellow band already referred to, along the lower part of the sides. The caudal part 

 beneath is mottled with yellow and brown, principally the latter. The specimen appears 

 to be scarcely mature; the epigynum (Fig. lOb) is without scapus, and indicates a subtri- 

 angular hood, widest in front, where it is apparently a little notched, with lateral slite on 

 either side opening underneath the hooded atriolum. 



DISTRIBUTION : Key West, Florida. Specimen received from Dr. Marx. 



GENUS SINGA, C. KOCH, 1837. 



This genus is composed almost exclusively of small species, which in general appearance 

 suggest certain species of the Retitelarise, with which the female especially may easily be 

 confounded. It approximates Epeira in the form of the cephalothorax and mouth organs, 

 and in the general stoutness and brevity of the legs. The cephalothorax is constructed 

 as in Epeira, but the caput is more evidently arched, and not so much depressed toward the 

 face; the surface is less pubescent, and is glossy. The siderear eyes are removed from the 

 midrear usually by a space only a little greater than that which separates between the 

 midrear and the midfront. The midfront eyes are separated from the sidefront by a space 

 which is usually not much greater than, or nearly equal to, the space which separates the 

 midfront eyes. Westring in his diagnosis states that in one species only (S. melanocephala) 

 do the midrear eyes approximate one another more closely than the midfront eyes. But in 

 American species considerable difference exists among the various species in the relation, 

 size, and position of the midfront and midrear eyes. Indeed, the genus may easily be 

 divided into several groups, according as the midrear are larger than or smaller than the 

 midfront eyes, or are arranged in a line shorter or longer. The clypeus in some species, 

 especially in the living examples of the male, is not much narrower than the space between 

 the midfront and midrear eyes. The mandibles and maxillae are shaped as in Epeira. 

 The legs are stout, and rather sparingly armed with stubby spines. The palps of the 

 male are short; the digital bulb almost wider than the femur of the front legs; and the 

 cubital is usually clothed with the normal two exceedingly long robust bristles. Coxa-I in 

 the male. is usually without any apical denticulation, but there are some exceptions to this. 

 The abdomen is obtusely oval or shortly eliptical; but little pubescent; the skin glossy. 

 Its markings frequently consist of longitudinal fillete of cretaceous or yellowish black color. 

 The snare is like that of Epeira in its general characteristics. 



No. 8 1 . Singa Mollybyrnae, new species. Plate XIX, Fig. 1. 



1889. Singa Mottybyrnx, MARX in lilt. . Catalogue, p. 549 (KEYSKBLING in liti.). 



FEMALE: Total length, 5 mm.; abdomen, 3.5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide; cephalothorax, 

 1.8 mm. long, 1.6 mm. wide. This species resembles certain forms of S. variabilis, but is at 

 once distinguished by the ocular quad being wider in front, instead of the reverse, as in 

 S. variabilis. 



