1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 13 



near to one as to the other. But the Drassidse, Agalenidie and Cin- 

 iflonidfe are very closely related to each other aud to the Thcrididse. 

 I have not thought the Ciniflonidse a group of sufficient distinctness 

 to be recognized as a family. The existence of a calainistrum and 

 cribelluni in Hijpochilus thorelU shoAvs that this charac ter does not 

 indicate close relationship. And besides, the Ciniflonid?e comprises 

 two well-defined sub-families, one of which may be near the Epei- 

 ridse and the other is very close to the Agalenidoe. So I have 

 divided the Ciniflonidje and placed them in these two families. 



Still it may sometimes be necessary to use artificial characters for 

 a division. I have separated the Drassidse and Agalenid?e accord- 

 ing by the number of tarsal claws. Some species which have been 

 classed as Agalenid?e may, by the division, fall into the Drassidse; 

 yet the two families are so closely related that such forms will not 

 mar, to any great extent, thesimiliarity of structure of the Drassid^e. 



The Attidas appear to be very high if not the highest. The 

 Drassidse, I think, are the lowest. The Epeiridse were probably 

 developed from the Therididie, the Therididse from the Agalenidfe 

 and these from the Drassidte. 



As I have not had access to several imjjortant European works, the 

 sequence of genera adopted is merely provisional, and I have not 

 felt at liberty to introduce changes in classification. Not all the 

 material obtained has been described ; this is especially the case 

 with certain young forms, which have been left with the hope of 

 getting the adult stage. 



KEY TO FAMILIES. 



1. Lung slits four, or two lung slits and two spira- 

 cles just behind them, 2 

 Lung slits two, the spiracles not just behind 



them ; mandibles articulated vertically, 4 



2. Eyes eight, ' 3 

 Eyes six, Dysderid^, 



3. With extra spinning organs, Hypociiilid.e. 

 Without extra spinning organs, Mygalid^e. 



4. Eyes equal or subequal, in two roAvs, 6 

 Eyes eight, unequal, in three or four rows, 5 



5. Eyes in three or four I'ows ; if three rows, two 

 middle of first row largest, second row smallest ; 

 if four rows, first row largest, third row 



smallest, Attid^. 



Eyes in three or four rows, first row of four or 



two small eyes, second or third row of large 



eyes, Lycosid^. 



