ARANEIDEA. 
3 
This appears to be a large proportion of undescribed species, but no more than might be 
expected from a district hitherto wholly (so far as I am aware) unknown to arachnologists. 
The researches of Alexis Eedtschenko, Reise in Turkestan, lately (in respect at least to the 
Araneidea) published by Kronenberg, give 146 species, of which 101 are identified with 
known European species. Excepting the Latin descriptions of new species, this work is 
written in the Russian language, with which I have, unfortunately, no acquaintance whatever- 
Eight only of the spiders described or recorded by Kronenberg appear to me identical with 
those contained in Dr. Stoliczka’s collection. These are Epeira tartarica, Ki’on. ; Epeira 
cornuta, , Clk. ; Epeira cuourbitina, Clk. ; Tetrugnatha extensa, Linn. ; Pachygnatlia clercki'u 
Sund. ; Erigone dentipalpis, Wid. ; Theridion tuberculatum , Kron. ; and Xysticus cristatus, 
Clk. At first sight it might seem remarkable that so large a proportion of the collection 
made by Eedtschenko in Western Turkestan should be identical with European species, while 
so small a proportion out of those collected hy Dr. Stoliczka are similarly identical ; but when 
it is borne in mind that more than half of Dr. Stoliczka’s collection was made in Murree and 
Cashmere, we need not be surprised at these results, for, indeed, a comparatively small collec- 
tion only can be said to have been made in Eastern Turkestan, and that chiefly on the high 
mountain ranges and during the wintei’ and eai’ly spring months ; these months being 
probably there, as in other analogous districts, the least favourable for the fullest develop- 
ment of the Araneidea. 
X have ohsei’ved that the number of species contained in Di*. Stoliczka s collection cannot 
be by any means considered a full representation of the spiders inhabiting the country travelled 
over. The season of the year had probably much to do with this paucity of species, but more 
than anything else it may be accounted for when we remember the number of irons Dr- 
Stoliczka had In the fire, embracing the whole field of the zoology, as well as of the geology, 
°f the districts visited ; instead, therefore, of being surprised at the smallness of the arachno- 
logical results of the expedition, we must, under the circumstances, wonder at their extent. 
We may look forward now with great interest to future collections made in the north of 
India, on the southern slopes of the mountain ranges of Cashmere, and in the plains adjoining, 
where we should expect the tropical character of the spiders to become far more marked, 
though probably still with a great diversity in the species from those found in the more 
central regions of India. No materials, howevei', exist, so far as I am an are, for any com- 
parison upon these points; indeed, the materials for comparison with any Indian spiders ai’e, 
yet, comparatively small, and but little has been hitherto published upon them. 
Order — AEANEIDEA. 
Family— THERAPHOSIAES. 
Genus —IDIOPS, Perty. 
1. — Idiops designates, sp. n., PI- L Eig. 1, £ . 
Adult male : length 5| lines ; to the end of falces 6J lines ; length of cephalotliorax 
3 lines (nearly) ; breadth rather over 2|. 
Cephalotliorax round-oval, truncated at each end and l’ather flattened ; it is of a bright 
r ed -brown colour, and the normal indentations are strongly marked. The caput is a little 
elevated above the general level, being rather the highest near the occiput, across which is a 
