50 



eyes^ the tivo middle ones largest, the second composed of two very 

 small eyes, placed behind the external ones of the first, the third 

 composed of two larger eyes, j^laeed 2y<^^<^lld to the second row ; 

 feet varying in leyigth. [l99.] 



Habits. Araneides wandering after prey, making no web, 

 but concealing themselves in a silken valve, for the purpose 

 of casting their skin, or for hibernation. 



Remarks. I have formerly stated my reason for preserving 

 the name Attus, given by Walckenaer to these Araneides. 

 The species being very numerous, it would facilitate their study 

 to arrange them in suitable subdivisions ; but this is a diffi- 

 cult task. The families proposed by Walckenaer are vaguely 

 charactei'ized and insufficient. The relative position of the 

 eyes offers some variations, but I could not succeed in obtain- 

 ing satisfactory characters for subdivision from those varia- 

 tions. As the least objectionable mode, I have taken the 

 relative lengths of the legs for the formation of my six fami- 

 lies; that classification is somewhat artificial, but so is any 

 other proposed. Moreover, the fifth tribe (that of the Salta- 

 torise) offers a very natural subdivision. The third pair of 

 legs, when longest, enables spiders to leap to an astonishing 

 distance. The habits of the subgenus Attus will be best de- 

 scribed by the history of the different species. 



Tribe I. Pugnatoki^, first pair, of legs longest and larg- 

 est, the fourth next. 



1. Attus audax. 



PL 7, figs. G, 7. 



Description. Black ; abdomen with a spot, several dots and 

 lines, white ; cheliceres brassy green ; feet Avith gray and white 

 hairs, 1. 4. 2. 5. 



Observations. There is some obscurity in regard to the dis- 

 tinction between this and A. 3-punctatus, but there can be 



