new and rare British Spiders. 199 



Neriene exhilarans, sp. n. (PI. XII. fig. 3.) 



Adult male, length 1 line. 



Cephalothorax oval, with little or no lateral marginal im- 

 pression at the caput ; the profile line forms an even slope, 

 with the slightest possible curve, from the hinder extremity 

 to the occiput, which is a little gibbous ; the ocular area 

 slopes forwards ; and the clypeus (the height of which exceeds 

 half that of the facial space) is rather prominent at its lower 

 margin ; immediately behind each lateral pair of eyes is a 

 small, slightly elongate, but rather deep indentation, on the 

 inner side of which is a distinct triangular black spot. The 

 colour of the cephalothorax is a deep rich brown ; and its 

 whole surface is very finely and thickly punctuose. Along 

 the central line of the caput is a single row of four or five 

 bristles directed forwards ; and a few others occupy the ocular 

 area. • 



The eyes are not very large, nor do they differ greatly in 

 size ; they are in the usual position — rather closely grouped 

 together, the two rows being near to each other. Those of 

 the hind-central pair are separated from each other by rather 

 less than a diameter's interval, and from the laterals by 

 rather more than a diameter ; those of each lateral pair are 

 seated slightly obliquely on a strong tubercle. 



The legs are slender, tolerably long, of an orange-yellow 

 colour, furnished with hairs, and with two or three very 

 slender erect bristles on the genual and tibial joints ; relative 

 length 1, 4, 2, 3. 



The palpi are slender, moderately long, of a pale orange- 

 yellow colour, the digital joints brown. The radial and cubital 

 joints are of the same length ; the former is the strongest, 

 and has, at the inner side of its fore extremity, a slightly 

 tapering, curved, and obtusely-pointed reddish-brown apo- 

 physis, rather less in length than the joint itself. The digital 

 joint is rather large, and has a strong lobe or protuberance on 

 the outer side. The palpal organs are not very prominent, or 

 very complex. A slender, black, filiform spine issues from 

 their base on the outer side, crosses over to the inner side of 

 their fore extremity, which it encircles, passing close beneath 

 the point of the digital joint, and forming a sinuous coil at 

 their fore extremity rather on the outer side, in contact with 

 some semitransparent membrane. 



The falces are strong, divergent, prominent in front, and 

 the extremities rather attenuated. Their colour is like that 

 of the cephalothorax ; towards their outer margins, and more 

 sparingly in front, they are furnished with some minute 



