120 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



Fam. TflOMisiDiE. — Oknithoscatoides. 



Cephalothorax short, broad, as broad or broader than long, moderately 

 convex above and slightly tuberculosa ; caput short, truncate in front, and 

 strongly compressed on its lateral margins. 



Eyes in two curved rows, the anterior shortest (the convexity of the 

 curves directed forwards, and forming a crescent) ; small, not greatly 

 differing in size, but the four laterals are largest, and the four centrals 

 smallest ; those of the lateral pairs are seated on or at the base of tuber- 

 culose eminences. 



Falces strong, not very long, conical, and nearly vertical. 



Maxillm moderately long and strong, a little wider at the top than in 

 the middle ; rounder! at the top on the cuter side, and slightly leaning 

 over the labium, which is about half the length of the maxillae, and of a 

 somewhat oblong form rounded at the apex. 



Sternum oblong-oval. 



Legs strong, moderately long, 1, 2, 4, 3 ; those of the first and second 

 pairs much the strongest and longest, but nearly equal in length ; those 

 also of the third and fourth pairs are nearly of equal length and strength. 

 All are somewhat roughencrl or tuberculose, especially those of the first 

 two pairs, and furnished with spines of varied length and strength ; those 

 on the tibisB and metatarsi of the two anterior pairs are strongest, the 

 longest forming two parallel longitudinal rows beneath the joints. Tho 

 legs terminate with two strong, curved, pectinated claws, beneath which 

 is a small claw-tuft. Among the spines are one or two not very long, 

 rather strong, of a pale colour or semi-diaphanous appearance, on the 

 upper sides of the femora ; these spines have a peculiar function as 

 observed in one of the species, and may very possibly be of generic value, 

 though spines of various sizes are found similarly situated in many 

 other Thomisid genera, while their special fimction (if any) has not been 

 yet observed, so far as I am aware, in other instances. 



Tho palpi terminate with a single pectinated claw. 



Abdomen broader behind than in front and truncated at both extemities ; 

 the upper surface and hinder part more or less thickly covered with 

 round or subconical, shining, or other tubercular elevations. The spin- 

 ners are short, stout, and closel.x grouped within a somewhat circular 

 sheath-like cincture much resembling the disposition of those of many 

 Epeirids. 



Ornithosacatoides hecipiens. 



Thomisus decipiens, Forbes, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 586, pi. LI. Adult female, 

 length rather above 6J lines. 



The general colour of this spider is a hoary or yellowish ashy grey 

 marked with black. The abdomen has a large, somewhat quadrate black 

 patch at the middle of its hinder extremity; on this patch are placed 

 eight shining roundish dark-brown tubercles; the four largest form a 

 transverse, unequally-sided parallelogram at the fore part of the black 

 patch ; the other four, which are much the smallest, form a longer trans- 

 verse parallelogram immediately behind the other. At the hinder part 

 also, 03 either side of the shining tubercles, are several strong tuberculi- 

 form eminences or prominences, of a similar kind to which are also four 

 small ones in a transverse line at the extreme foro margin ; some other 

 depressed spots or pits are also disposed on the upper surface, with a 

 dark blackish suffused patch at the middle of the anterior extremity, and 

 another on each side just in front of the foremost lateral eminence. 



