758 MB. F. o. MOKAHD CAMBKlDQB ON [June Iff, 



A single example of this fine Theraphosid, of the female sex, 

 was taken in a huge web of the " Agelenoid " type in the damp low- 

 lying portion of the forest near Suntarem. Many more of the 

 webs were seen, but the tube is spun so far down amongst the 

 roots of the trees that it is next to impossible to secure specimens, 

 for they retire with lightning speed on the smallest sign of danger. 



Mblodeus, geu. nov. 



Posterior spinninci-mamilla as loncj as or shorter than abdomen ; 

 secpneiits equal in length. Legs shorter, stout, especially the femora. 

 Pang-groove with a single row of teeth on outer margin and numerous 

 ciispules towards base. Tarsi i. and ii. distinctly scopidate ', with 

 central series of long setat. Coxa of pedipalp famished with from 

 7-10 curved claviform spines. Base of mandible tvith 3 or 4 isolated 

 bristles incrassate at the base. Diameter of anterior central eyes 

 equal to or scarcely less than axis of anterior laterals. 



Melodbus SAifGuiNEus, u. sp. (Plate XXXIII. figs. 1, 4, 7, and 

 Plate XXXV. fig. 1.) 



$. 24 mm. long. Type in coll. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

 Hab. Santarem, Lower Amazons. 



5 . — Colour. Carapace bright orange-red, clothed with short, 

 sillty, rufous hairs. Abdomen black, clothed with dense pubes- 

 cence, furnished with erect black hairs, having on either side two 

 separate longitudinal bands of fine transverse obliquely dull orange 

 blotches, interrupted towards the ventral surface. Ventral area 

 clothed with mouse-grey pubescence. Legs short, stout, yellow- 

 brown, darker towards their extremities, clothed with fine black 

 hairs and rufous pubescence. Sternum and mandibles deep brown, 

 the latter darker at apex, both clothed with black hairs. 



Carapace a little longer than broad ; cephalic area not quite 

 three-quarters the length of carapace. Central fovea deep, re- 

 curved ; thoracic striie well marked. Ocular tumulus slightly raised 

 above the level of the carapace ; three times as long as its width. 

 Anterior centrals large, circular, half a radius apart, rather less 

 from the anterior laterals. Anterior laterals ellipsoidal, their axis 

 equal to the diameter of anterior centrals. Posterior centrals 

 smallest, oval, half their diameter from anterior centrals, almost in 

 contact with posterior laterals. Posterior laterals ellipsoidal, their 

 axis less than that of anterior laterals, almost in contact with the 

 latter; anterior row almost straight. (N.B. The eyes vary in 

 different specimens.) 



Mandibles parallel-sided, slightly enlarged towards apex. Pang- 

 groove armed on inner side with 11 stout conical teeth ; its floor 

 studded towards the base with Jiumerous minute cusps. Outer 

 margin fringed with rufous hairs, of which 8 towards the base are 

 isolated, separate and thickened towards their base. 



Sternum longer than broad, set with black hairs, each springing 



' In immature examples the soopula is entirely absent. 



