608 Mr. Buacxwatut’s Descriptions of new Species of Spiders. 
Gen. Eraatis. 
Oculi subæquales, in seriebus 2 transversis in anticá cephalo-thoracis parte 
positi; seriei utriusque intermedii quadram referentes, laterales feré con- 
tigui in tuberculis obliqué positi. Maaille mediocres, labium versus 
declinatæ, basi convexa, apice rotundatæ, intùs plus quam extis abrupte 
curvata. Labium subtriangulare. Pedes breves, mediocres; pari Imo 
longissimo, dein 2do, 3tio brevissimo. Tarsi triunguiculati ; unguibus 2 
superioribus curvatis pectinatis, inferiore prope basin inflexo. 
Ergatis benigna. (Theridion benignum, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Aran. livr. v. 
pl. 8. fig. 1. Drassus parvulus, Blackw. Research. in Zool. p. 337. Dic- 
tynna benigna, Koch, Die Arachniden, b. iii. p. 27. tab. 83. fig. 184—5.) 
Ergatis latens. (Dictynna latens, Koch, Die Arachn. b. iii. p. 29. tab. 83. 
fig. 186.) 
Ergatis viridissima. (Drassus viridissimus, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. 
t. l. p. 631.) 
In addition to the above-named species, it is probable that the Drassus 
flavescens of Kummer might be included in the genus Ergatis, as it appears, 
from the description given of it by M. Walckenaer (Histoire Naturelle des In- 
sectes Aptères, tome i. p. 632), to have a close relation of affinity with Ergatis 
viridissima ; but it would be precipitate to place it among the Ciniflonidæ 
before it has been proved to possess the essential characters of that family. 
When my attention was first directed to Ergatis benigna, in the autumn 
of 1832, I supposed it to be new to arachnologists, and described it in the 
London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine, vol. iii. p. 437—8, under the 
appellation of Clubiona parvula. Soon after, having had an opportunity of 
comparing this spider with specimens of Ergatis viridissima received from 
the continent, I transferred it to the genus Drassus, with the Phytophile, to 
which genus it appeared to be allied (Researches in Zoology, p. 337). At 
this period I was not aware of its specific identity with the Theridion benignum 
of M. Walckenaer, and I am quite unable to comprehend why so accomplished 
and discriminating an observer should still persist in separating it from the 
forms with which it is most intimately connected by its organization and 
ceconomy. 
