42 Mr. J. Blackwall on the Structure, Functions, (Economy, 



55. Drassus nitens. 



Drassus nitens, Blackw. Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag. Third Series, 

 vol. hi. p. 439 ; Research, in Zool. p. 328. 



formosus, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. ii. p. 488. 



Macaria formosa, Koch, Die Arachn. B. vi. p. 97. tab. 203. fig. 501. 



In warm sunny weather in spring and summer this small 

 but brilliant spider may be seen running on the ground in the 

 woods of Denbighshire and Caernarvonshire. Like many other 

 species of Araneidea it is partial to moisture and drinks water 

 freely. A pair confined in a phial having become feeble and 

 greatly emaciated, I introduced to them a few dfops of water, 

 which they drank with avidity, and speedily resumed their 

 strength and former plump appearance. In the month of May 

 1833, females, in a state of captivity, constructed cocoons of a 

 hemispherical form, measuring about ^th of an inch in diameter, 

 in each of which they deposited 9 or 10 spherical eggs of a pale 

 yellow colour, not agglutinated together. The cocoons were com- 

 posed of delicately white silk of a very fine but compact tex- 

 ture, and connected with the upper part of each was a tube of 

 the same material, usually occupied by the female. 



Genus Clubiona, Latr. 

 56. Clubiona holosericea. 



Clubiona holosericea, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. i. p. 590 ; 

 Latr. Gen. Crust, et Insect, torn. i. p. 91 ; Sund. Vet. Acad. 

 Handl. 1831, p. 142 ; Hahn, Die Arachn. B. i. p. 112. tab. 29. 

 fig. 84 ; Koch, Uebers. des Arachn. Syst. erstes Heft, p. 19. 



Clubiona holosericea, in common with other species of the ge- 

 nus, has a small climbing apparatus situated below the tarsal 

 claws, by means of which it runs securely on the perpendicular 

 surfaces of dry smooth bodies. It is most abundant in well- 

 wooded districts, constructing a cell of white silk, which serves 

 it for a domicile, on the under side of leaves or behind the exfo- 

 liating bark of old trees. In June the female spins in this cell 

 a lenticular cocoon of fine white silk, measuring ^th of an inch 

 in diameter, and deposits in it about 109 spherical eggs of a yel- 

 lowish white colour, not agglutinated together. From this period 

 she appears to direct her attention exclusively to her progeny, 

 constantly remaining on or near the cocoon. 



57. Clubiona amarantha. 



Clubiona amarantha, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. i. p. 591 ; 

 Hahn, Die Arachn. B. i. p. 113. tab. 29. fig. 85. 



The haunts, habits and ceconomy of this species are similar to 



