18/2.] SPIDERS OF PALESTINE AND SYRIA. 245 



of flange or depressed margin, which runs round the sides and 

 apex ; the labium as well as the maxillae and sternum have their 

 surface punctuose. 



The legs are furnished with longish, prominent, dark hairs and 

 bristles, and some strongish spines on the tibiae and metatarsi of 

 those of the third and fourth pairs ; their relative length appeared 

 to be 1, 4, 3, 2 ; but the difference between 1 and 4 is very slight. 



The eyes are in two, almost straight, nearly parallel transverse 

 lines, of which the foremost is the shortest ; they are small and 

 closely grouped together ; the interval between those of the hind 

 central pair is greater than that which separates each from the 

 lateral of the same row on its side ; and a similar remark applies to 

 the eyes of the foremost line, the interval, however, between the 

 fore centrals being proportionally greater, though actually nearly 

 the same as that between the hind centrals ; the fore laterals ap- 

 peared to be the largest of the eight. 



The palpi are moderate in length and strength; the radial is 

 shorter than the cubital joint, and has a small, not very sharp- 

 pointed tapering apophysis from its outer extremity, adhering rather 

 closely to the digital joint ; this latter joint is large, oval, and its 

 length about equals that of the humeral joint ; the palpal organs are 

 well developed, but not very complex, and, though characteristic in 

 structure, do not present any remarkable feature. 



A single adult male under a stone near Jericho. 



Melanophora ursina, sp. nov. (Plate XVI. fig. 25.) 



Female adult, length 3f lines. 



Of the ordinary general form and structure, this Spider has the ce- 

 phalothorax of a dark yellow-brown colour, with a narrow black mar- 

 gin, and slight converging black lines and markings, which indicate 

 the normal grooves and indentations. The eyes are closely grouped 

 in two transverse, nearly straight, parallel rows, the foremost row 

 being slightly the shortest ; those of the hinder row appeared to be 

 separated by equal though very slight intervals ; but of the foremost 

 row the centrals are further from each other than each is from the 

 lateral on its side. The legs are strong and moderately long, their 

 relative length 4, 1, 2, 3 ; they are furnished with hairs, and with a 

 few rather fine spines on the tibise and metatarsi of the two hinder 

 pairs. The fakes are similar to the cephalothorax in colour ; they 

 are neither long nor very strong, and are but very slightly prominent 

 at their base in front ; their outer surface is clothed pretty densely 

 with short, strong, black bristles ; the maxillse are not very long, but 

 moderately strong ; their transverse impression is strong, and they 

 are curved and inclined to the labium, which is oblong, and rather 

 rounded at its apex. The sternum is covered with minute punctures ; 

 these parts are of a yellow-brown colour. The abdomen is of a short 

 oblong-oval form, and of a dull sooty brown-black colour above, 

 clothed with short fine hairs, but it is paler on the underside ; below 

 the fore margin are some short, strongish, bristly black hairs, which 

 curve upwards ; about the middle of the upperside are six small pale 



