434 REV. O. p. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [May 16, 



the height of the clypeus (which is rather prominent) is less than 

 half that of the facial space. 



Legs moderately strong and not very long, 1, 2, 4, 3 ; the tibise of 

 the first and second pairs bent, furnished with hairs and spines ; the 

 latter (in the type) numerous, but confined to the tibiae, metatarsi, 

 and tarsi of the first and second pairs. The tarsi terminate with 

 three claws. 



Falcen rather short and not very strong. 



MaxillcE strongly bent over the labium ; but both these parts of the 

 structure are so concealed by the unusual prominence of the sternum 

 that they could not be made out quite satisfactorily. 



Sternum subtriangular, with the posterior angle strongly truncated, 

 the truncation having the appearance of the ordinary angle bent 

 and flattened back by constant pressure upon that part of the 

 massive abdomen. The sternum is also very convex, so that (when 

 the Spider is seen in profile) it projects rather below the level of the 

 extremities of the maxillse and falces. 



Abdomen large, projecting strongly over the cephalothorax ; very 

 convex above and (especially when seen from above) looking very 

 like that of a Gasteracantha ; the integument is coriaceous and thickly 

 clothed with small sharp-pointed scales, arranged like tiles on a 

 roof; four sharp-pointed tubercular eminences occupy the four 

 corners of the upperside, the posterior pair being the longest and 

 strongest ; behind them the surface is marked with strong transverse 

 fold-like indentations, whose position is indicated by each bearing 

 a row of dark points ; two other transverse curved rows of dark 

 points (4 and 3) are placed between the two posterior spine-like 

 tubercles above noted. The spinners are short, and contained 

 within a strong, round, sheath-like prominence. 



Tecmessa pectorosa, sp. n. (Plate XXXI. fig. 10.) 



Adult female, length 1 line, breadth of abdomen 1 line (nearly). 



The cephalothorax is of a dark reddish yellow-brown hue, the 

 falces, maxillae, and sternum being rather lighter in colour ; the legs 

 also are very similar, though, excepting the femora, of a rather paler 

 browner tinge. 



The eyes are rather indistinct, all, excepting those of the fore 

 central pair, being of an amber-brown hue. 



The legs have each side of the tarsi and metatarsi, and the inner 

 side of the tibiae, armed with long strong spines, articulated to small 

 tubercles, divergent and directed forward. 



The habit of the Spider is, evidently, to sit with its anterior pairs 

 of legs drawn back, bringing the spinous parts in front of and 

 around the fore part of the caput, the spines appearing thus to 

 protect it with an impregnable cage-like defence ; or their purpose 

 may be only to enclose and retain better within the grasp of the 

 falces the Spider's insect prey. 



The palpi are rather long, and armed in a similar way to the 

 legs. 



The sternum is one of the most remarkable features in this 



