the form of the epigynum (Fig. 769). 

 only in the Southern States. 



Superfamily Argiopoidea 

 This species has been taken 



Genus PECKHAMIA (Peck-ham'i-a) 



These spiders are ant-like in form, having the pecjicel of the 

 abdomen visible from above; they differ from the other ant-like 

 spiders found in our fauna in that the quadrangle of eyes occupies 

 more than one half of the length of the cephalothorax. The 

 thoracic part of the cephalothorax is short and marked behind the 

 eyes with a transverse and slightly recurved furrow, behind which 

 it is slightly convex, and then inclined to the posterior border, 

 which is a little turned up and obtusely truncate. This genus 

 belongs to the fissidentate series, the lower margin of the furrow 

 of the chelicerae being armed with a compound tooth (Fig. 770). 

 Three species are found in the United States. 



Fig. 770. CHELICERAE OF PECKHAMIA PICATA 

 a, male b, female 



Peckhamia picata (P. pi-ca'ta).— This is our most common 

 species. The ocular quadrangle is black with violet reflections; 

 the thorax reddish brown, with two white spots in the depression 

 behind the posterior lateral eyes; the anterior part of the abdomen 

 is reddish brown, the posterior part black: there is a white band 

 on each side in the constriction in the abdomen. The sternum is 

 dark brown or black; the coxae are light. The first pair of legs 

 are considerably enlarged. The male is .13 inch in length; the 

 female .19 inch. 



Peckhamia scorpiona (P. scor-pi-o'na). — This is the smallest 

 of our three species, the male measuring .09 inch in length: the 

 female .14 inch. The first pair of legs are only slightly enlarged. 

 "In the male, the cephalothorax is brown; the abdomen is brown 



699 



