1869.] Indian Arachnoidea. 231 



end ; the spinners are snort, situated on the lower terminal edge and 



surrounded with an oval raised margin. 



Length of the thorax 65 m.m. ; its width about the middle, 6*5 m.m. 



abdomen 7*5 „ ,, ; near the posterior end, 9 ,, ,, 



• at the anterior end, 3'8 ,, ,, 



one of the first pair of feet 20 ,, „ 



2nd 19-5 „-„ 



3rd 10-5 „ „ 



4th 11 M 5) 



Loc. This beautiful species was sent, with a large number of other 

 novelties, to the Indian Museum by Mr. A. C. Peel, an assiduous 

 collector and observer of natural history objects ; it was obtained at 

 Sibsagur, Western Assam. 



Family, SCYTODIDJE* 



SCYTODES, Latr. 



This genus belongs to the tribe of the Senoculina of Blackwall, 

 characterized by the presence of only six eyes. In Scytodes these 

 eyes are distributed in pairs on the anterior part of the thorax, one 

 pair lies in front, and one pair on either side somewhat posteriorly 

 compared to the former. 



While other Senoculina, like Dysdera and Segestria, are, as regards 

 the form of the body, mostly related to the Lycosid^e (especially 

 to Lycosa,) and to the Thomisid^:, the Scytodes in general character 

 seem to be closely allied to some species of the Theridid^e, an opinion 

 which, if I am not mistaken, has been advanced by Walkenaer. With 

 reference to this point, however, and also concerning the divisions of 

 the Octonoculina and Senoculina being natural, great doubts may be 

 expressed. I believe that the general character of the body ought in 

 such cases to be considered as more important in a classificatory point of 

 view, than the single character relating to the position of the eyes. The 

 distinction according to these is no doubt convenient, but not always 

 natural. Scytodes, when observed sitting in its natural position, has 

 like TJiomisus the three anterior pair of feet directed forwards, and the 

 posterior stretched obliquely from the body, but also with the intention 

 of a forward movement. In this position the spiders greatly resemble 



* Vide " Scytodiformes," and genus Scytoda in Eu. Simon's " Hist. nat. des 

 Araignees," Paris, 1864, p. 43. 



