1872.] SPIDERS OF PALESTINE AND SYRIA. 315 



In its general colours and their distribution, especially on the ab- 

 domen, this species resembles O. gentilis (Koch) and O. variegatus 

 (Hahn) ; but it may be distinguished by its rather larger size and 

 more robust form, as well as by the colours being darker, and their 

 less variegated appearance. 



The cephalothorax has the sides of a deep black-brown colour, 

 somewhat veined and mottled with yellow ; the longitudinal central 

 band is yellowish, thinly clothed with white hairs, and it continues 

 in the form of a narrow bar .between the two hind central eyes ; the 

 falces are similar to the sides of the cephalothorax in colour ; and 

 the legs, which are furnished with spines (some exceedingly long), 

 are yellow, thinly marked or irregularly annulated with dark brown, 

 the greater portion of all the femora being brownish black. 



The palpi have the radial joint very slightly produced both above 

 and below at its extremity ; the digital joint is stouter, and not so 

 elongated at its extremity as in the two other species mentioned 

 above ; it is also prominent in an obtusely conical form at its base 

 on the outer side — a character which at once distinguishes it from 

 those species, and allies it nearly to O. italicus (Walck.), from which, 

 however, it is decidedly distinct in its markings and also in some 

 points of structure ; it is, moreover, smaller, and has the digital 

 joints of the palpi also smaller, and the prominence at their base on 

 the outer side far less strongly developed. 



A single adult male was found on the plains of the Jordan. 



OXYOPES OPTABILIS, Sp. nOV. 



Male adult, length 3| lines. 



This Spider is similar in size, general colouring, and appearance to 

 O. lineatus (Walck.), but maybe at once distinguished by the struc- 

 ture of the radial joints of the palpi ; in place of the long, broad, 

 and flattened apophysis issuing from the base on the outer side of 

 the radial joint in O. lineatus, the present one has (issuing from the 

 same part) a strong but very short, though prominent, hollow apo- 

 physis, with an angular point at its extremity and one near it on 

 each side ; the apophysis also beneath the extremity of this joint 

 is stronger ; and in colours and markings the clypeus and falces 

 differ a little, being entirely of a uniform brown-black colour ; the 

 ocular area also appears to be larger. 



An adult male of this species was found on the Jordan plains. 

 It is an interesting one, because it so nearly resembles S. lineatus, 

 and yet differs so strikingly in the points above noticed. 



Fam. Lycosides. 



Genus Lycosa (Latr.). 



Lycosa (Tarentula) grisea, Koch, Die Arach. xiv. p. 161, 

 pi. 497. fig. 1386. 



Adult and immature females of this Spider were found generally 

 distributed. 



