32 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Fain. EPEIBIMI. 

 Genus Epeira, Walck. 



Epeira brounii, sp. n. PL x., fig. 5. 



Length of an adult female 18 mm., and of an adult male 11 mm. 



The cephalothorax of the female is moderately convex, compressed before, 

 rounded on the sides, medial indentation and normal grooves moderate ; it 

 has a reddish-brown hue, and is clothed with silky whitish hairs. The 

 height of the clypeus equals the facial space. 



The four intermediate eyes are placed on a prominence and nearly form 

 a square ; the tubercles of the lateral eyes arch over the anterior pair. 



Eelative length of legs 1, 4, 2, 3, first and fourth nearly equal (30 mm.) ; 

 they have a red chestnut tint, and are sparingly furnished with fine light 

 hairs ; the armature consists of spines and sustentacula. 



The palpi are moderately slender and resemble the legs in colour. 



The falces are strong, vertical, and have a dark amber hue. 



The maxilla, are as broad as long, slightly pointed, and inclined towards 

 the lip, which is somewhat oval ; these parts have a greenish-brown tint. 



The sternum is heart-shaped, has eminences opposite the legs ; is brown 

 in colour, and clothed with light hairs. 



The abdomen is a broad oval, depressed above, projects over the base of 

 the cephalothorax ; the ground colour is brown, and the specific markings 

 have a pale ochraceous hue ; the fore-pair of impressed spots form a 

 transverse line with the anterior tubercles ; these brown spots are inter- 

 sected by the broad medial band, forming a cross-like pattern, margined 

 with the paler tints ; the fore-margins have a somewhat crescent-shape, and 

 the hind converge into a double loop above the posterior tubercle ; between 

 this conical protuberance and the two anterior tubercles there are four 

 hook- shaped marks ; on the lateral margins there are a series of oblique 

 lines converging towards the spinners. On the ventral surface there is a 

 shield-like mark with light margins, and a double row of four pits in the 

 centre. The vulva consists of a long, curved, dark amber-coloured, wrinkled, 

 taper, membraneous process, directed backwards ; beneath it are black 

 protuberances. 



The male is about two-thirds the length of the female. The cephalo- 

 thorax is oval, nearly as broad as long ; medial fovea deep ; the anterior 

 prominence of the caput is more pointed, and the tubercles of the lateral 

 eyes more prominent than in the female ; it has a brownish-amber hue. 

 The legs are long, moderately stout, and resemble the cephalothorax in 

 colour ; there is a curved process on the coxae of the first pair ; the tibiae of 

 the second pair are tumid, and have four irregular rows of spines on the 

 inferior surface ; the general armature consists of numerous long spines. 



