280 REV. O. p. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Mar. 4, 



spines. This will be found, I think, to be the case also with some 

 other species when collectors will take the trouble to collect a series 

 of examples, instead of being satisfied with a few or even single 

 specimens of those forms which appear to diifer most from each 

 other. At present, therefore, it seems rather hazardous to describe, 

 without reservation, as new species. Spiders of this genus differing 

 only, or mainly, from others already described in the relative length, 

 strength, or direction of some, or all, of these spines, especially if 

 the spiders come from the same locality, and even though the dif- 

 ference in the spines may be considerable. 



Another, often valuable, specific character, but almost unavailable 

 in this group of Spiders, is the colour, and pattern formed by its dis- 

 tribution. The greater number of known species of Gasteracantha 

 have been described from specimens dried and pinned like Coleoptera 

 and other insects ; and very frequently dried after having been for 

 some time immersed in spirit of wine. The process of desiccation, 

 under such circumstances, not only destroys the colouring, but very 

 often itself alters the natural direction of the spines. We are pro- 

 bably therefore, in nine cases out of ten, totally ignorant of the true 

 colours and markings of the Gasteracanthides. It is worth while 

 noting, in proof of this, a description, from life, of a Spider included 

 in the genus Gasteracantha by Mr. A. G. Butler (but probably 

 belonging to a nearly allied one, Peltosoma, Sim.). The descrip- 

 tion referred to may be found in an account of the British Expedi- 

 tion against the Ashantees in 18/4, ' Through Fanteeland to Coo- 

 massie,' by Frederick Boyle, p. 202, and is shortly as follows : — 

 " The shell (of the abdomen) is about an inch across by half an 

 inch in length, of the loveliest and most delicate yellow, scalloped 

 at the edges, where occurs a dainty moulding of blue. Under the 

 beautiful shell, protected by it on all sides, so that not even a claw 

 projects beyond the cover, is the body and head, smooth and of a 

 dark-red colour. Several were brought home. Captain Grant, 2nd 

 W.I., has a handsome specimen." Thinking, from this account 

 of its form and size, that this spider might possibly be identical 

 with Mr. Butler's species {Gasteracantha camhridg'ii, Butl., Trans. 

 Ent. Soc. Lond. 1873, p. 175, pi. iv. fig. 8), I sent a drawing of the 

 latter to Captain Grant, who at once recognized it as the same species. 

 Captain Grant's specimen was unfortunately lost on the way home ; 

 and 1 had therefore no opportunity of examining it; its identity, 

 however, with the Spider above named may, I think, be taken as 

 certain. 



I have several dried examples of Gasteracantha camhridgii from 

 the west coast of Africa, and have examined others in the Oxford 

 University ]\Iuseum, as well as in the British Museum. These are 

 entirely of a uniform dull muddy-brown hue, and do not possess the 

 slightest trace of the beauty described (and, I have no doubt, correctly 

 described) by Mr. Boyle. It is very probable that preservation in 

 spirit of wine might have retained something, if not all, of the 

 original colours and markings of this Spider. I have in spirit 

 numerous species of Gasteracantha ; and many of them show great 



