624 EEV, O. PICKARD-CAMBRIDGB Olf [Apr. 1 8, 



length of the maxillae, and rather rounded at the apex ; colour like 

 that of the maxillae. 



Sternum as broad as or even a little broader than long, of a pale 

 dull brownish-yellow colour, and somewhat triangular heart-shape ; 

 the posterior extremity is a little drawn out into an obtuse point. 



Abdomen oval, of a dull lateous brown colour, paler above than 

 on the sides, clothed with coarse pale hairs ; spinners rather short, 

 compact, the inferior pair much the strongest. 



Hah. Madagascar. 



Di^A PLACATA, sp. u. (Plate XXX. fig. 6.) 



Adult male, length 1| to 1| line. Adult female, 2^ to 2| 

 lines. 



In general form and structure this species is normal, as also is 

 the relative size and position of the eyes. The eyes, however, of 

 the posterior row are less nearly equidistant from each other than 

 in many other species, the centx-al pair being considerably nearer 

 together than to the laterals. 



In the male the colour of the cephalothorax and falces is orange- 

 yellow ; the legs and palpi yellow, as also the maxillae, labium, and 

 sternum. The abdomen is of a dull Ititeous colour, marked along 

 the sides with dull silvery white, and covered with a few dark 

 bristly prominent hairs. Spines on all the legs excepting the tarsi. 

 Claw-tuft small. Tarsal claws closely and regularly pectinate. 

 Legs slender, relative length 2-1-4-3, 1 and 2 greatly the longest. 



Pal_pi short, radial and cubital joints of equal length ; the former 

 has a few spiny bristles, and a long, pale, tapering and somewhat 

 diaphanous curved spine-like apophysis at its fore extremity on the 

 outer side, longer than the joint itself ; on the underside is a much 

 shorter and strong prominence somewhat bifid at its extremity, 

 one of the bifid points being furnished ^l ith a terminal short thorn- 

 like spine. The margin of the joint between these two apophyses 

 has a row of short bristles which are continued round the edge of 

 the lower apophysis. Digital joint rather small, short oval. The 

 palpal organs consist of a strong circularly curved, tapering corneous 

 process, surrounded by a black spine which emanates from the 

 lower part on the inner side of the large process, and terminates 

 on the outer side at its anterior extremity. 



The female has the cephalothorax tinged more or less strongly 

 with dull olive-greenish brown. The genital aperture consists of 

 two small yellow-brown circular orifices.in a transverse line, with the 

 ordinary ducts and spermathecae beneath the epidermis showing 

 very distinctly in a somewhat ouiega-form. 



It is very possible that this Spider when alive may be of a more 

 or less vivid green hue like our native species D. dorsnta Tabr. ; 

 colours of this kind usually fading in specimens preserved in spirit. 



Adults of both sexes were received from Ceylon, from the late 

 Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites. 



