Mr. Blackwall's Descriptions of new Species of Spiders. 619 



joint ; each inferioi- tarsal claw is provided with two pairs of fine teeth near 

 the base ; and the web constructed by this species is of a compact texture, 

 having a tube connected with it, extending-, usually, to the extremity of a 

 cylindrical cavity in the earth, which is frequently excavated by the animal 

 itself. 



The distinctness of the genus Curator will be immediately perceived on 

 comparing the characters upon which it is founded with those of the other 

 genera comprised in the family Jgelenidte. 



Genus Agelena, Walch. 



8, Agelena elegans. Cephalo-thorace mandibulis maxillis palpis labio sterno 

 pedibusque flavescenti-rufis, horum pari 4to longissimo, reliquis eeqiiali- 

 bus ; oculis seriei anterioris intermediis omnium maximis ; abdomine 

 nigricante, série medianâ linearum obscurarum angularium pallidiorum 

 maculâque utrinque anticè ovali nigrPi. 



Length of the female, not including the spinners, ^th of an inch ; length of 

 cephalo-thorax -^; breadth -^; breadth of abdomen ^; length of a 

 posterior leg J ; length of a leg of the third pair \. 



Anterior part of the cephalo-thorax compressed ; sides depressed, marked 

 with furrows diverging frou! the upper part to the margins ; a row of 

 bristles, directed forwards, extends along the medial line, and there is 

 an indentation in the posterior region. Mandibles strong, conical, armed 

 with a few very minute teeth on the inner surface, and inclined towards 

 the sternum, whicli is broad and heart-shaped. Maxillœ short, gibbous 

 at the base, and inclined towards the lip, which is nearly quadrate, being 

 rather broader at the base than the extremity. Fourth pair of legs the 

 longest, the other pairs equal in length. These parts and the palpi are 

 glossy, and of a yellowish red colour, the base of the lip being the darkest. 

 Eacli tarsus is terminated by three claws ; the two superior ones are 

 curved and pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base. 

 The palpi have a curved claw at their extremity. Eyes disposed on the 

 anterior part of the cephalo-thorax, in two transverse, curved, nearly 

 parallel rows, whose convexity is directed backwards ; the intermediate 



VOL. XVIII. 4 M 



