18 



feet long, hairy, penultimate joint of the anterior pair with a 

 notch ; feet 4. 1. 2. 3. [57] 



Observations. This spider, hitherto always found in mid- 

 winter, under stones or on the ground, is probably not the male 

 of Mygale carolinensis ; but the peculiarity of its first pair of 

 legs, is, no doubt, a sexual character. The same joint of the 

 feet of the male of my Dysdera bicolor, is not only bent, but 

 has powerful prongs and bristles, which nature has given him 

 as a defence, or as the means of grasping the female. 



Habitat. Alabama. 



5. Mygale? unicolor. 



PI. 1, fig. 5. a and b. 



Description. Deep rufous ; cephalothorax depressed in the 

 middle, with two impressions, cheliceres very large ; abdomen 

 smooth ; third pair of legs with short, very thick joints ; feet 4. 

 1. 2. 3. 



Observations. This species is very distinct from any other, 

 particularly by the manner in which its palpi are inserted. 

 Were the maxillae extended a little more at their extremity, 

 this spider should be placed in the sub-genus Oletera, which 

 follows. The specimen from which this ^description was taken 

 (a female), was turned up by the plough in a field, in the 

 month of May. The manner in which the spiders belonging to 

 Mygale and Oletera live, hidden under ground, and probably 

 issuing out only at night, prevents our becoming acquainted 

 with their habits. I doubt whether the males ever dwell in 

 tubular habitations. Much remains yet to be done to complete 

 the history of this genus and that of the next. 



Habitat. Alabama. 



