18/9.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 287 



varieties I have seen of that species ; and as it comes from the op- 

 posite side of Africa, I am induced to describe it as a distinct species. 



The sigilla are rather large and of a deep reddish brown hue,_ as 

 are also the spines, the cephalothorax, and legs, the falces being 

 darker. The colouring of the abdomen generally has entirely dis- 

 appeared, from the bad state of preservation of the only example in 

 my possession. 



Hab. West coast of Africa. 



Gasteracantha crepidophora, sp. n. (Plate XXVII. fig. 14.) 



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

 the spines, 7\ lines ; longitudinal diameter, exclusive of spines, 3 

 lines. 



The remarkable form of the intermediate spines, that of a boot 

 with a sharp toe, will serve to distinguish this curious Spider from 

 all others of the genus known to me. 



The anterior spines are well removed from the intermediate ones, 

 rather small, and not very strong, being similar in length but not 

 cpiite so strong as the posterior ones. The intermediate spines are 

 very strong, rather long, bent ; and near the extremity the curved 

 point goes off nearly at right angles, forming a large roundish heel ; 

 the point forms the" foot; and the whole bears a very exact resem- 

 blance to a boot. 



The cephalothorax is black-brown ; the legs are dull brown, the 

 femora being the lightest-coloured. The abdomen is of a somewhat 

 subpentagonal form, and of a slightly brownish yellow colour, with a 

 broad marginal black band on each side in front, including the an- 

 terior spines and four of the front sigilla ; the intermediate spines 

 are orange-coloured on their basal half, the rest being black with 

 a slight reflection of steel-blue ; the posterior spines are black. The 

 anterior sigilla are normal in number, 10 ; the posterior ones only 8 — 

 two larger ones on each side, with four minute ones between them. 

 All are rather small, and of a black colour. 



This Spider appears to form the type of a very distinct group 

 of the genus. 



Hab. Dorey, New Guinea. 



Gasteracantha helva. (Plate XXVII. fig. 15.) 



Gasteracantha helva, Bl. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 3, vol. xiv. 

 p. 42. 



.Adult female: length of the transverse diameter at the widest 

 point, exclusive of the spines, rather over 3 lines ; longitudinal dia- 

 meter rather more than 2\ lines. 



The abdomen is of a subpentagonal form ; the intermediate (or 

 longest) spines are placed at the exterior angles of the hinder part of 

 the abdomen ; they are moderately long, strong, rapidly tapering to a 

 sharp point beginning a little way from their extremity and directed 

 strongly outwards and a little backwards ; these spines are of a deep, 

 rich, shining steel-blue colour. The posterior ones are shorter and 

 much less strong, rather nearer to each other than each is to the 



