330 Mr. F, O. P. Cambridge on 
In spite of Walckenaer’s decision to the contrary, it is very 
evident that the figures in Sloane and Browne represent the 
same species, being also from the same locality. The differ- 
ence in the length of the spines, which Walckenaer lays 
special stress upon, is no criterion whatever, while the number 
of sigilla between the anterior spines is the same in all members 
of the genus. Although Walckenaer says that he compared 
the types of the two forms described by Fabricius as caner?- 
jformis and hexacantha, and that they were certainly not 
identical, yet the characters he mentions as distinguishing 
the two are of little value. Fabricius, too, quotes Browne’s 
figure t. xliv. fig. 5 (it is misprinted in one place t. xiv.) 
under both these species, and it is difficult to understand on 
what grounds this author gave it another name. 
A. hexacantha, Fabr., therefore becomes a synonym of 
canertjormis, Linn. 
Although I have not any examples of this six-spined form 
from Jamaica, there are many from other islands in the 
Antilles (Haiti, Trinidad, &c.) in the British Museum collec- 
tion, and also from Georgia and Venezuela. ‘There are also 
examples identified by Keyserling as vittata, Thor., which 
are most probably a small form of caneriformis, being also 
almost identical with another series from the Bahamas. In 
these the anterior spines are obsolescent. ‘he length of these 
spines varies considerably even in the few examples from the 
Bahamas, and we may look for many varieties of this spider 
from different localities. It is possible that some of these 
forms may have to be recognized as subspecies, and I cannot, 
with only the present material at hand, be sure whether this 
or the form Kochi? is the true cancriformis, Linn. 
In addition to the localities mentioned above, this species 
has been recorded from Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico, 
Florida, Alabama, Arizona, and Mr. Bonhote has taken it in 
the Bahamas. 
Gasteracantha Canestrinti, O. P. Cambr. (PI. VII. tig. 12.) 
Gasteracantha Canestrinii, O. P. Cambr. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 293, pl. xxvi. 
fig, 2.—Antigua. 
This species has but four spines, the anterior pair being 
absent. Otherwise it is very like smaller examples of cancri- 
formis, especially those from the Bahamas, in which the 
anterior spines are obsolescent. 
Examples in the British Museum are from Antigua 
(Forest) and Dominica (Dr. Nicholls). 
