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



side ; the two foremost spots are smaller and nearer together than 

 the hinder ones. Besides these, there are twelve other smaller spots 

 of the same colour disposed widely apart, but symmetrically beside 

 and behind the four before noted ; the two largest spots are con- 

 nected by a dull pale line crossed at right angles in the middle by 

 another similar line which branches out irregularly into several finer 

 lines at its hinder extremity ; the sides, as well as the fore and 

 hinder parts and a portion of the underside, are slashed (as it were) 

 by a bold denticular or vandyked pattern of a brownish-yellow 

 colour ; the points of the denticulations (which are long and curved) 

 are directed upwards and forwards. The underside has a con- 

 spicuous clear yellowish-white somewhat quadrate large patch on its 

 centre ; this has six black-brown impressed dots longitudinally in 

 three pairs ; those of the central pair are almost contiguous to 

 each other ; on either side of this patch, principally forwards, are 

 some brown markings and veinings ; close in front of the above- 

 mentioned patch is the genital aperture, the process (or epigyne) 

 connected with which is large, prominent, and of a red-brown 

 colour; the aperture itself is of a transverse oval form. The spin- 

 ners are red- brown and short ; those of the superior and inferior 

 pairs are very strong, and on either side of them is a largish dark 

 brown patch, with two or three conspicuous yellow-white spots. 



In the position of the eyes this species also differs from L. 

 erebus ; the hinder row (looked at from behind) is straight, and the 

 four eyes of which it is composed appeared to be separated by 

 equal intervals, though, if any thing, the two centrals are the furthest 

 apart, while in L. erebus this row of eyes is strongly curved, the 

 curve directed forwards, and its two central eyes are much nearer 

 together than each is to the lateral on its side ; the eyes also of each 

 lateral pair are further apart in L. erebus than in the present species. 

 The relative length of the legs is 1, 4, 2, 3 ; the terminal tarsal claws 

 are three, the inferior one strong and very sharply bent backwards. 



Adult and immature females were found in irregular snares spun 

 among low plants on the plains of the Jordon ; while the only 

 situation in which L. erebus was found was beneath stones. 



In a similar situation the latter species was also found, not un- 

 frequently, at Alexandria (Egypt) in 1864. 



Lathrodectus argus, Sav. Arachn. d'Egvpte, p. 137, pi. 3. 

 fig. 10. 



Males and females, both adult and immature, of this beautifully 

 marked Spider were found in their snares among low plants near 

 the earth on the plains of the Jordan and near Beirut ; the females 

 had usually a sort of domed shelter, covered with bits of leaf and 

 particles of earth, beneath which they sat. 



Lathrodectus hamatus, Koch, Die Arachn. vi. p. 105, pi. 206. 

 figs. 507, 508. 



An adult male and females were found beneath stones both at 

 Jerusalem and near Jericho. 



