64 
Annals of the Transvaal Museum 
Order SOLIFUGAE. 
Blossia laticosta sp. nov. (text fig. i a-c). 
The type of this species is a single adult male collected at Blauwkop, Zout 
pansberg dist., by Mr G. van Dam (io. viii. 1916). No species of this genus has 
been hitherto described from the Transvaal, and the relationships of laticosta 
to any of the species described from adjacent parts of S. Africa are not very 
obvious: it presents definite points of affinity to B. unguicornis Purcell, the 
type of which came from Dunbrody, Uitenhage dist. ( Annals S. African Mus. 
11. p. 214), but the complete absence of shaggy hairs from the surface of the 
flagellum will at once serve to distinguish the species. 
Colour. Headplate, tergites and appendages with a dull reddish brown 
tinge. Metatarsus of palp more darkly coloured, and to a less extent also the 
distal half of the tibia. 
Text fig. 1. Blossia laticosta sp. nov. a, Right chelicera of male viewed from mesial 
side, b, Anterior portion of upper jaw viewed from above, c, Distal portion of 
flagellum considerably magnified, viewed from side adjacent to the chelicera. 
Headplate. The surface is covered with numerous short spinules and is 
completely devoid of long spines or bristles: there are several short stout 
spines scattered about near the margins, and a small group occurs in the 
neighbourhood of the eyes. 
Tergites. On the three thoracic tergites long stout spines with bifurcated 
tips occur. The abdominal tergites are devoid of long setae or bristles except 
in the last segment. A few short spines occur on each of these tergites except 
the last and they are weak on the two penultimate tergites. 
Pedipalp. On the lower surface of the metatarsus on its inner side is a row 
of 3 or 4 spines, and on the lower surface of the tibia are about half-a-dozen 
spines, some of them being slender and weak, the series being not definitely 
arranged in two rows. 
Chelicerae. The upper surface carries stout spines most of which are 
slightly bifurcated at the tip, some being of moderate length and others short. 
The distal dorsal bristle is stout at the base and tapers finely to the apex, being 
