244 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON THE [Feb. 20, 



This small species is of a uniform pale luteous yellow colour, the 

 abdomen being paler than the rest. In form and general structure 

 it is of the ordinary type, but the position of the eyes rather different ; 

 they are in a compact and rather small group, disposed in two trans- 

 verse curved rows, the curves directed away from each other. The 

 hinder row is the longest and the most curved ; the eyes of the hind 

 central pair are the largest of the eight, and of a rather oval form, 

 oblique, and slightly nearer together than each is to the lateral on its 

 side ; those of the fore central pair are rather further from each other 

 than each is from the fore lateral on its side ; those of each lateral 

 pair are very near to each other, but not contiguous. The legs are 

 strong, but not very long ; they are sparingly furnished with hairs, 

 and (chiefly on the tibiae and metatarsi of the hinder pair) with some 

 blackish spines. The palpi are moderately long and strong ; the 

 radial joint is a little shorter than the cubital, and is slightly produced 

 at its outer extremity into a small and not very sharp-pointed apo- 

 physis ; the digital joint is of moderate size ; and the palpal organs 

 are rather prominent, not complex, and have a strong curved corneous 

 process, or spiny projection, issuing from near their base on the 

 inner side ; this process curves round, and has its sharp point near 

 their outer extremity. The falces are a little prominent at their base 

 in front, but not very long nor very strong. The maxilla and labium 

 are of normal form. The abdomen is oblong-oval, rather broader be- 

 hind than before. The spinners are strong and prominent, those of 

 the inferior pair being stronger and a little longer than those of the 

 superior. 



A single example of the adult male of this Spider was found under 

 a stone on the plains of the Jordan. 



Melanophora scutata, sp. nov. (Plate XVI. fig. 24.) 



Male adult, length 3|- lines. 



The whole of the fore part, including the legs and palpi, is of a 

 deep brown colour, tinged slightly with yellow ; but the legs get 

 paler towards their extremities, the tarsi of those of the third and 

 fourth pairs being of a pale dull yellowish hue ; the colour of the 

 abdomen is a dull sooty black, and that of the spinners, which are 

 prominent (those of the inferior pair being longest and much the 

 strongest), is black-brown ; the spiracular plates are strong and of 

 large size, somewhat quadrate in form, and of a coriaceous nature, 

 covered with minute impressed points or punctures, and of a dull 

 yellow-brown colour. 



In general form and structure this Spider is of the ordinary type ; 

 but the cephalothorax is broad, and truncate before, and scarcely at 

 all constricted on the sides forwards. The falces are long, strong, 

 and projecting, and prominent in front near their base ; the muxillce 

 are very strong at their lower half, the palpi springing from nearer 

 their extremity than their base ; the labium is broad-oblong, some- 

 what curved outwards on the sides ; it has its centre, in a longitu- 

 dinal line, prominent, and presents the peculiarity (noticed in respect 

 of M. Iceta, p. 241, and observable in others of this genus) of a kind 



