400 BET. 0. P. OAMBEIDGE ON TWO NEW SPECIES 



bably disposed about the rays of the snare, where it would mate- 

 rially assist in the entanglement and overpowering of the cap- 

 tured prey. 



The above remarks on the affinities of the spiders forming the 

 subject of the present communication are merely thrown out as 

 queries ; for at present I do not feel sufficiently assured upon the 

 different considerations which enter into the question, to justify 

 the establishment of a new family of Araneidea, while, at the 

 same time, I confess myself quite unable to include them in any 

 family hitherto characterized. 



Gen. nov. Miageammopes. 



Characters of genus : — 



Cephaloiliorax oblong, rather broader in front than behind ; upper 

 surface rather flat; the caput has its fore corners roundly 

 truncate, but no lateral compression. 



Eyes four in number, in a single row across the caput. 



Legs yevy unequal in length, extended straight forwards and 

 backwards, peculiarly articulated upon the lower surface of the 

 cephalothorax, and without any sternal plate properly so called ; 

 those of 1st pair much the longest and strongest, and inserted 

 near together and close behind the maxilla? ; those of 2ad pair 

 inserted immediately behind and beneath those of 1st ; those of 

 3rd pair rather the widest apart, and much tlio shortest ; those 

 of 4th pair ucai'cst together, their basal joints being almost 

 contiguous. The tibia), metatarsi, and tarsi of the lat pair 

 thickly furnished with hairs, of which the most conspicuous 

 form a coarse fringe on their lower sides ; a similar fringe is on 

 the lower side of the metatarsi of the 4tli pair ; and a strong 

 calamistrum on the upper surface of the same joint ; each tarsus 

 ends with three strongly curved claws, two superior, and one 

 inferior, all dentated on their inner surface, though the den- 

 tation of each differs from that of the others. 



Palpi short, terminating with a strong curved black claw pecu- 

 liarly pectinated, some of the pectinations being nearly as 

 strong as the claw itself and giving it a clubbed appearance. 



Falces small and projecting. 



Maxillce long, tolerably strong; slightljjt inclined towards the 

 labium ; obliquely rounded on the outer side at their extremities, 

 which are a little enlarged on the same side ; and their extreme 



' points project very slightly beyond the falces. 



