Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Genus PISAURINA (Pis-au-ri'na) 



In this and in the following genus there are four eyes in the 

 anterior row; this genus differs from the following in that the 

 median ocular area is a little longer than wide, the lower margin 

 of the furrow of the chelicerae is armed with only three teeth, 

 and the two pieces of the lorum of the pedicle are united by a 

 transverse suture (Fig. 691). Only two or three species have 

 been found in the United States; the following is the one best 

 known. 



Pisaurina mira (P. mi'ra). — This is an extremely variable 

 species in colour and in size. Full-grown specimens measure about 

 one half inch in length. In the more common type the body is 

 light brownish yellow, with a wide darker and browner band on 

 the middle of both cephalothorax and abdomen; on the cephalo- 

 thorax the edges of the band are nearly straight, but on the 

 abdomen they are undulating. The band is bordered on each side 

 by a white line (Fig. 692). 



This is a common species throughout the eastern part of 

 the United States, and one that frequently attracts attention 

 on account of its beauty. A figure of a female with her egg-sac 

 is given on page 599; and a figure of one resting on her nursery 

 on page 600. 



This is the Micrommata undata of Hentz. 



Genus DOLOMEDES ( Dol-o-me'des) 



As in Pisaurina, in the spiders of this genus there are four 

 eyes in the anterior row; but here the median ocular area is as 

 wide as or wider than long, the lower margin of the furrow of 

 the chelicerae is armed with four teeth, and the anterior piece 

 of the lorum of the pedicle has a notch behind into which a pro- 

 jection of the posterior piece fits (Fig. 693). 



The spiders of this genus frequently attract attention on 

 account of their large size. They are most often observed near 

 water, or in marshy places, but sometimes they are found in 

 cellars or other dark and dry situations. 



Notwithstanding their large size and frequent occurrence 

 our species have not been well differentiated by writers on this 

 group, and there is consequently much confusion in the nomen- 



C07 



