1879-] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 283 



separating these being about equal to the width of the cephalothorax. 

 The intermediate spines are of moderate length, stout, but very 

 slightly tapering, and directed a little backwards ; not far behind each 

 of these is one of the posterior spines, which are very small and of a 

 sharp-pointed conical form, and directed more outwards than back- 

 wards. 



The abdomen is of a dark yellowish brown hue, the sigilla and 

 spines deep red-brown. The sigilla on the posterior margin are ab- 

 normal, being 10 in number instead of the usual number 9 — three large 

 on each side, with four small ones between : those on the anterior mar- 

 gin appeared to be normal in number (i, e. 10) ; but, owing to the 

 injured state of that part of the abdomen, I cannot speak positively 

 on the point. The cephalothorax is dull black, clothed with coarse, 

 dull, greyish yellow pubescence ; and the legs dark reddish brown, 

 clothed with hairs of a dull greyish yellow hue. 



Hab. Laos. 



Gasteracantha frontata. (Plate XXVI. fig. 5.) 

 Gasteracantha frontata, Elackw. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 3, 

 vol. xiv. p. 40. 



Length of the transverse diameter of the adult female, exclusive of 

 the spines, 5$ lines ; longitudinal diameter nearly 2\ lines. 



This Spider is another species of the "fornicata" group, but may 

 be distinguished at once by the shortness and stoutness of the inter- 

 termediate spines, which are very slightly directed backwards. The 

 colour of the cephalothorax and legs is deep brown, the abdomen 

 yellow, with, in some examples, a narrow, transverse, blackish bar 

 connecting the anterior and two of the central sigilla ; the part of 

 the abdomen from which the posterior spines spring is dark yellow- 

 brown, with a roundish yellow central blotch ; the underside is deep 

 brown, spotted with good-sized and distinct yellow spots ; the spines 

 and sigilla are reddish brown. 



The figure is drawn from the type specimen described by Mr, 

 Blackwall (/. *)• 



Hab. East Indies. 



Gasteracantha peccans, sp. n. (Plate XXVI. fig. 6.) 



Adult female : length of the transverse diameter, exclusive of the 

 spines, 4| lines ; longitudinal diameter rather over 2| lines. 



In the general form of the abdomen this Spider is much like G. 

 madagascarie?isis,Y'ms. ; but it differs totally in colours and markings; 

 and the intermediate spines are shorter, much stronger, and straight ; 

 they taper also to a sharp point, not by a straight but by a curvilinear 

 convex outline ; the posterior spines also are shorter, and those of the 

 anterior pair are almost rudimentary; the intermediate spines are 

 directed a little backwards. The upperside of the abdomen is yel- 

 low tinged with brown, the two exterior sigilla at each end of the 

 posterior row of 8 are surrounded with a blackish patch touching the 

 abdominal margin; the two hinder sigilla also of the central four 

 are each similarly encircled. The underside of the abdomen is black- 



