1872.] SPIDERS OF PALESTINE AND SYRIA. 307 



This very distinct and fine species is of the ordinary Thomisiform 

 shape, and belongs to the same group as the two foregoing species. 



The cephalothorax, whose profile is strongly and evenly rounded, 

 is broad in front, with but slight lateral impression at the caput ; and 

 the ordinary indentations are almost imperceptible ; it is furnished 

 with a few longish, but not very strong, prominent bristles. It is 

 glossy, and of a deep and almost jet-black colour, with a slight 

 brownish tinge. 



The eyes do not differ much in size ; those of the hind central pair 

 (which are, perhaps, the smallest of the eight) are distinctly wider 

 apart than those of the fore central pair. The legs are of the deepest 

 rich black-brown, the tarsi, metatarsi, and tibiae being each annulated 

 with one yellow ring ; they are furnished with hairs, bristles, and not 

 very strong spines ; those of the first and second pairs are long and 

 moderately strong. The falees (which are of a strong conical form 

 and prominent at their base in front), with the maxillce, labium, and 

 sternum, are of a deep brown, approaching black. 



The palpi are short and of a deep red-brown colour ; the radial 

 joint is of the same length as the cubital, and has its outer extremity 

 produced into a strong apophysis ; this apophysis has its extreme 

 point bifid ; and beneath the joint is another strong apophysis. The 

 palpal organs are not very highly developed or complex ; a strong 

 circularly coiled spine surrounds them ; this spine is not in contact 

 with the margin of the digital joint as in many other species of Tho- 

 misus, but is free and separate from it. 



The abdomen is oval, moderately convex above, and projects over 

 the base of the cephalothorax ; it is thinly furnished with bristly 

 hairs, and is of a dull but deep black colour ; and on the upperside 

 are two large, conspicuous, pointed, oval yellow-white spots, placed 

 transversely, and each somewhat obliquely, across the middle ; some 

 obscure rust-red markings are faintly visible between these spots and 

 the spinners, but no pattern is discernible ; possibly some variety exists 

 in different examples in respect of the abdominal markings and depth 

 of colouring. 



A single example was found running on the ground at Jerusalem. 

 It resembles more nearly some very dark examples of the male of T. 

 rotundatus than any other species known to me ; but the structure of 

 the palpi and palpal organs distinguish it at once from that species. 



Thomisus buffonii, Savign. Egypte, Arachn. p. 164, pi. 6. 

 fig. 10. 



An adult male and females of this remarkable Spider were found 

 on bare spots on the ground at Jerusalem and on the plains of the 

 Jordan. 



Thomisus setiger, sp. nov. (Plate XIV. fig. 15.) 



Male adult, length 2| lines. 



In its size, general colouring, and the very peculiar armature of 

 the whole Spider, with long pale-coloured spiny bristles and hairs, 

 this species is closely allied to, and nearly resembles, both Thomisus 



