434 REY. 0. 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 tibiz of 
the first and second pairs bent, furnished with hairs and spines ; the 
latter (in the type) numerous, but confined to the tibize, metatarsi, 
and tarsi of the first and second pairs. The tarsi terminate with 
three claws. 
Falces rather short and not very stroug. 
Mazille strongly bent over the /abium ; 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 maxillee 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 cephalothoraz is of a dark reddish yellow-brown hue, the 
falces, maxillze, 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 tibize, 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 
