18/2.] SPIDERS OF PALESTINE AND SYRIA. 257 



which it is very nearly contiguous ; the fore centrals are only an eye's 

 diameter from the margin of the clypeus ; the hind centrals are fur- 

 ther from each other than each is from the hind lateral on its side ; 

 and there is a roundish black patch immediately below and contigu- 

 ous to the fore central eyes. The legs are short and moderately 

 strong ; their relative length 4, 1,2, 3, and their colour a clear pale 

 yellow ; they are furnished sparingly with hairs, hut are quite desti- 

 tute of spines. The palpi are short, and similar in colour to the legs. 

 The falces are short, strong, and a little inclined backwards, and 

 similar to the cephalothorax in colour. The maxillae are of a yellow- 

 brown colour, the extreme margin being pale ; they are strong, of 

 nearly oblong form, slightly broadest at the extremities, which are a 

 very little rounded, and rather inclined to the labium. This part is 

 large, much the broadest at its base, and the sides rather roundin» 

 to the apex, which is truncate ; its colour is dark yellow-brown, and 

 the apex pale yellowish. The sternum is heart-shaped, of a reddish- 

 yellow colour, and, like the cephalothorax, covered with punctures. 

 The abdomen is of oval shape, considerably convex above, and pro- 

 jects over the base of the cephalothorax ; it is of a pale yellow hue, 

 the upperside more or less suffused above with purplish or maroon- 

 brown, principally on the hinder part, where, in the central line 

 near the spinners, are several indistinct yellowish angular lines or 

 chevrons. The genital aperture is characteristic. 



An adult female was found under a stone at Jericho ; one was also 

 received subsequently from France. Figure 41, a, b, Plate XVI. re- 

 presents the male palpus, drawn by Dr. Koch from a French example, 

 of which, not having seen it, I am unable to give any description. 



Genus Hecaerge (Bl.). 



Hecaerge maculata, sp. nov. 



Female immature, length 3 lines. 



The whole of this Spider (which is of the ordinary form and struc- 

 ture) is of a yellowish colour, the abdomen being of rather a duller hue 

 than the rest ; the upper surface (including the legs also) is thinly 

 spotted and marked with small dull brown spots and markings. The 

 eyes are in two transverse curved rows, the hinder one being rather 

 the longest, and the curves directed forwards ; the hinder row is more 

 strongly curved than the other, so that the interval between the two 

 lateral eyes on either side is greater than that between each hind 

 central eye and the fore central opposite to it. The eyes of the fore 

 central pair are the smallest of the eight, and are slightly further 

 from each other than each is from the lateral on its side ; and the 

 interval between the hind centrals is less than that between each and 

 the hind lateral on its side. The legs are moderately long and 

 strong, their relative length 4, 1, 2, 3; the tarsi and metatarsi of 

 each of those of the first and second pairs have on their undersides 

 two longitudinal parallel rows of long, strong, sessile spines ; and each 

 tarsus has a small compact tuft of sooty-coloured hairs at its extre- 

 mity, beneath two curved black claws. It is possible that with adult 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1872, No. XVII. 



