396 



ARACHNIDA ARANEAE 



CHAP. 



twenty species of minute spiders from sub-tropical regions. They 

 are eight-eyed, with short smooth legs, terminated by two claws 

 not dentated. The spinnerets are especially characteristic. 



Prodidomus (Miltici) includes fifteen species from the Medi- 

 terranean region, Africa, and America. Zimris is an Asiatic genus. 

 The single species of Eleleis (E. crinita) is from the Cape. 



Fam. 14. Drassidae. Elongate spiders with low cephalo- 

 thorax. Legs usually rather long, strong, and tapering, terminated 



by two pectinate claws, 

 armed with spines, and 

 scopulate. The body is 

 smooth or short-haired 

 and frequently unicolor- 

 ous and sombre-coloured, 

 seldom ornate. The eyes, 

 normally eight, are in 

 two transverse rows. The 

 mouth parts (labium and 

 maxillae) are long. Spin- 

 nerets as a ride terminal, 

 and visible from above. 



This important family 



3 IY V ff^^b. W it includes a large number 



of species from all parts 

 of the world, fifty -six 

 being natives of the 

 British Isles. There are 

 familiar examples in the 

 brown or mouse-coloured 

 spiders which scurry 

 away when stones are 

 raised, or when loose 



1. llmssus lapidosus. bark IS pulled off a tree. 



/Mm spinimana - 4 ' The fam % y be 



divided into seven sub- 

 families, of which four, DEASSINAE, CLUBIONINAE, LIOCRANINAE, 

 and MICARIINAE, are represented in this country. 



(i.) The DRASSINAE include more than twenty genera, some 

 of which possess numerous species and have a wide distribution. 

 The following may be mentioned : 



FIG. 205. Drassid Spiders. 



