1869.] Indian Araclmoidea. 225 



Zool. Bot. G-esellsch., Wien, vol. xvi, p. 605). I have compared 

 several species regarding this point, and I believe that the distinction 

 has hardly subgeneric value ; it is not at all constant, neither is 

 the truncate form of the cephalothorax. With reference to Blackwall's 

 new genus Pasithea* I may mention that this name has been used 

 as a generic denomination already several times; once in botany 

 and twice (by Lamouroux and Lea) in recent and fossil Zoology. 

 The name must be replaced by a new one, though, judging from the 

 description, it is very difficult to trace its generic distinction from 

 Sphasus. 



The species of this family are readily recognized by their de- 

 pressed form and the feet strongly bent forward (at least the two 

 anterior pairs)'. They form two natural groups, one represented by 

 Thomisus which has the two last pairs of feet much shorter than 

 the two anterior ones, and the other by Philodromus which has all the 

 feet of more equal or subequal size. To this last genus belongs one of 

 our large spiders which is very often seen on the walls of houses 

 &c. &g. ; it runs about with the greatest rapidity, and daily con- 

 sumes a large number of insects, being especially active at night. 

 There are besides a great number of other similar species which 

 occur in our neighbourhood. Several new genera have been lately 

 established through the examination of the Swedish and N. Grerman 

 species belonging to this group. 



Thomisus (Xysticus) pugilis, StoL, Pi. XIX Fig. 3. 



? Cephalothorax large, subquadrangular, somewhat narrow anteri- 

 orly, broader in the middle, with sloping sides and convex edges ; uni- 

 form pale yellowish green ; the front is truncated with projecting 

 edges, above and laterally marbled with brown, and near the upper 

 edge with some more or less confluent whitish spots. The whole of the 

 thorax is covered with very minute pustules from which originate 

 very short white hairs. 



The eyes are disposed on the front of the coloured fore part 



of the thorax. The first pair is situated about the middle of 



the vertical front, the eyes being rather distant from each other ; 



those of the second middle pair are still more distant than those 



* Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1858, 3rd ser. I., p. 427. 



29 



