EEV. 0. P. CAMBKIDGE ON CEYLON SPIDERS. 387 



slender line, and the six form a somewhat pentagonal figure ; imme- 

 diately below the two hindmost spots is a small one of the same co- 

 lour : and the whole is surrounded by a broken belt of similarly co- 

 loured patches, dividing the upper- and undersides of the abdomen. 



A single example of this pretty little spider was contained in the 

 Ceylon collection ; and, though not adult, the very distinct pat- 

 tern formed by its abdominal markings seems to stamp it as a di- 

 stinct species. 



DoLiCHOGNATHA, nov. gen. 



Gephaloihorax large and elongated at caput. 



Falces of great length, nearly equal to that of cephalothorax. 



MaxillcB moderately long and strong, slightly divergent, broader at 

 extremities than at base ; extremities slightly obliquely truncated 

 on outer sides. 



Labium short, oblong ; apex roundish-pointed. 



Eyes in four pairs, or two slightly curved convergent lines ; those 

 of front central pair much the largest of the eight, near together, 

 but not contiguous, and seated on a strong, circular, tubercular 

 prominence ; those of the hind central pair much the smallest 

 of the eight, seated on slight tubercles and contiguous to each 

 other ; those of each lateral pair are seated on a strongish tu- 

 bercle, and separated from each other by about the diameter of 

 the fore eye. 



Legs of first and second pairs much the longest and strongest ; 

 those of the third pair the shortest. 



This genus, which I have with some hesitation founded upon a 

 single interesting spider received from Mr. Nietner, might per- 

 haps be properly considered a sw&genus of either Linypliia or 

 Theridion. Eesembling the former somewhat in the maxillae, 

 I'alces, and relative length of the legs, it yet resembles the latter 

 more in its general appearance, its globular abdomen, and in its 

 palpi. In the four small conical eminences on the abdomen it is 

 very like the genus Ero (Koch), which is itself probably only 

 a subgenus of Theridion; but it differs from Theridion very de- 

 cidedly in the form of the maxillae, and from both Theridion and 

 Linyphia in the large size of the two fore central eyes. It has 

 affinities also with hothPachyynafha (Fam. Linyphiides) and Tetra- 

 gnatha (Fam. Epeirides). On the whole it seems best to keep it 

 separate from all those genera, in either of which it appears to 

 have about equal claim for inclusion. 



