206 
Annals of the Tkansvaal Museum. 
of the anteromedian eyes projects forwards fairly strongly. Jnst in front 
of these eyes mesially is 1 stout bristle and 2 smaller ones : behind them 
is a pair of short weak spines. 
Appendages . — Coxae and labium without spinules or spiniform setae. 
First leg with stout spines laterally on both tibia and metatarsus and an 
odd one may or may not occur on the anterior side of the tarsus : there 
are 1 or 2 on the ventral surface of the metatarsus and 2 or 3 at the apex 
of the patella interiorly. Second pair of legs with weaker spines. 
Chelicera with 2 rows of teeth, an inner row of 4 or 3, and outer row 
comprising 1 large basal tooth and 3 or 4 small distal ones. Tarsus of palp 
with a prominent pointed subconical lobe at the apex superiorly. 
Measurements . — Total length 9 mm., length of carapace 4 T, breadth 
of same 3 -6, length of tibia of palp 2 mm. 
General colouration. — Dark-brown. 
In other respects this male resembles that of rupicola described by 
me (Records Albany Museum, II, p. 463). The anterior prominence of 
the carapace is specially characteristic of the species. 
The male was accompanied by a female specimen which agrees closely 
with the type of paucispina, but differs in the absence of distinct spines 
or spiniform bristles on the ventral surfaces of coxae III and II : it is 
smaller than the type. This would seem to point to a relationship between 
microps and paucispina, as indeed is indicated by the ocular character. 
Female examples have recently been taken at Wolhuters Kop, 
Rustenburg District, by Mr. G. van Dam: the cluster of spines or bristles 
on coxa III is lacking in these examples. 
Family DIPLURIDAE. 
Microstigma, gen. nov. 
This new genus is founded for the reception of a species which cannot 
be included in any Diplurid or Gtenizid genus hitherto known from South 
Africa. It is assigned to the Dipluridae on account of the absence of the 
rastellum, but I am unable to discover definite indication of close relation- 
ship to any of the known genera of that family. But for the absence of 
scopulae it might perhaps be included in the group Brachytheleae (see 
Rainbow in Records Australian Museum, Yol. X, p. 259). Some light 
on its relationships may be disclosed on the discovery of the male, but 
for the present it can be considered as one of the connecting links between 
the two families Ctenizidae and Dipluridae. The characters of the species 
are as follows : — 
Microstigma geophilum, sp. nov. (Text fig. 8.) 
Types. — Several female specimens taken under stones in the damp 
bush which covers the hills on the south side of Grahamstown (J. Hewitt, 
March, 1915), The surfaces of the living animal are covered with 
extraneous siliceous matter, the tiny granules of which adhere closely 
to the integuments of the spider. 
Colour . — Carapace dull-brownish : abdomen brown, with 4 or 5 pale 
transverse bands dorsally, the second and third bands being interrupted 
mesially : legs pale-brown. >* 
