undescribed Genera and Species fl/'Aranekla?. 439 



to remain together any longer than I found it convenient to continue my 

 observations ; and I may remark, that their union, however prolonged and 

 undisturbed, was invariably accomplished in the manner stated above, 

 without the slightest deviation being perceptible on the most minute in- 

 spection. After a lapse of several weeks, the females thus impregnated 

 fabricated their cocoons and deposited their eggs in them, all of which 

 proved to be prolific; affording, in conjunction with the results of former 

 experiments of a similar kind made upon spiders belonging to the genera 

 Agelena, Thcridion, Epeira, &c, a complete refutation of the opinion pro- 

 mulgated by M. Treviranus, and adopted by M. Savigny, that the palpal 

 organs -are employed for the purpose of excitation merely, preparatory to 

 the actual union of the sexes by means of appropriate organs situated 

 near the anterior extremity of the inferior region of the abdomen. 



Genus, Drassns, Walckenaer. 



Drassus nite?is. 



This handsome species has the cephalothorax of an oval form, convex 

 above, somewhat rounded in front, and thinly covered with short, hoarv 

 hairs, which are most abundant on the anterior part; its colour is brownish 

 black, with six faint, white lines, three on each side, diverging from the 

 superior part to the lateral margins. Eyes disposed on the anterior part 

 of the cephalothorax in two transverse, curved, concentric rows whose 

 convexity is directed backwards ; the interval between the intermediate eyes 

 of the posterior row is greater than the space which separates them from 

 the lateral eyes of the same row, and the intermediate eyes of the anterior 

 row are the smallest of the eight. Mandibles strong, conical, perpendicular, 

 with a curved, red nail at the extremity, and a very few exceedingly mi- 

 nute teeth on the inner surface. Maxillae powerful, enlarged externally 

 where the palpi are inserted, greatly dilated at the base, beneath, com- 

 pressed near the middle, slightly enlarged, rounded at the extremities, 

 and inclined towards the lip. Lip longer than broad, and round at the 

 apex. Pectus of an oblong oval figure pointed at the posterior extremity. 

 These parts are of a brown-black colour, the pectus being the darkest. 

 Legs long, their colour brown with a faint tinge of red, the coxae, trochan- 

 ters, and thighs of the first pair, and the trochanters and thighs of the se- 

 cond pair excepted, which are of a dark brownish black hue; the thighs 

 of the anterior legs are robust. Two plain, curved claws terminate each 

 tarsus, and underneath them is a small brush; some compound, hair-like 

 tubes, or papilla?, for the emission of a viscous secretion, similar in struc- 

 ture to those constituting the brushes, occur on the under side of the tarsi. 

 Palpi filiform; the first and second joints are dark brownish black, the 

 third, fourth, and fifth joints being of the same colour as the tibiae and 

 tarsi. The abdomen is in the form of an elongated oval, projecting a little 

 over the base of the cephalothorax, and is covered with short hairs; it is 

 deep black, but when seen in a powerful light reflects rich tints of purple, 

 green and copper; on the upper part, in front, is a small, transverse, 

 slightly curved, white line whose convexky is directed forwards, and be- 

 hind it ; but at a considerable distance is a long, transverse, white line, the 

 middle part of which is abruptly curved in a direction opposed to that of 

 the anterior one; nearly opposite to each extremity of the longer line is a 

 detached white spot on the sides of the abdomen, and a short, white line 

 extends obliquely above the outer margin of each plate of the spiracles ; 

 along the medial line of the upper part of the abdomen is a row of small 

 white spots, the one on the coccyx, which terminates the series, being the 

 most conspicuous. The spinning mammillae are cylindrical and rather pro- 



