classification of the spiders of the sub-family Erigoninae, dealing 

 with those species which he included in the Walckenaeria Group. 

 Although this group was considerably the smallest, the amount 

 of alteration in the generally accepted classification necessitated 

 by the strict application of the international rules of nomenclature 

 was greater than in any other group. Mr. Smith gave a brief 

 outline of the characteristics of some of the more striking species 

 in each of the genera concerned, but refrained from stating 

 technical details, which would be published in the Club's Journal. 

 He remarked that a work of revision of this kind necessitated a 

 thorough overhauling of a vast amount of literature. A very 

 large percentage of the papers examined contained no indication 

 in their titles as to whether they included any reference to this 

 particular sub-family, thus entailing a search through the whole 

 of the works in question. After this preliminary selection a 

 good deal of further labour was required to w T eed out the literature 

 which contained no details of systematic importance. The 

 residuum contained about 150 publications, a list of which it 

 was proposed to publish in the Journal during 1906, for the 

 benefit of those who might feel disposed to continue observations 

 on the sub-family. 



.Mr. Smith then gave a description of a spider, Anglia hancockii, 

 which he believed to be new to science. He stated that this was 

 one of the largest -known species of the Erigoninae, and was a 

 very early type, agreeing closely in its characters with the hypo- 

 thetical ancestor of the group which he sketched in 1903. One 

 of the r< markable characteristics of this species was to be found 

 in the maxillae. These two plates, which are well developed in 

 almost all spiders, and are really appendages of the first joint of 

 the palpi, are usually more or less rounded externally at their 

 remities. In this species, however, they are produced into 

 sharp angles, terminating in a long bristle. The falces were 

 armed in front, each with a highly developed denticule or tooth, 

 which was described in detail, and which resembled similar 

 curious structures in other species of the group. Their functions 

 were entirely unknown, but some of them were, no doubt, sense 



Mr. Smith's remarks were illustrated by means of sketches, 

 and at their close a very cordial vote of thanks was accorded to 

 iiini. after which the meeting adjourned. 



