THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. 55 



being not far from the base. Fang groove very oblique ; 

 outer edge with three usually strong clenticulations, 

 inner edge with two . . . . . . Dvassus 



Maxillae externally convex inclined towards labium, the 

 point of insertion of the palpus being near the middle. 

 Fang groove almost transverse, either without denticu- 

 lations or with small ones . . . . . . 3 



3. Posterior row of eyes not, or hardly longer than anterior 



row . . . . . . . . . . Pvostliesima 



Posterior I'ow of eyes considerably longer than anterior 



low . . . . . . . . . . Phoeocedus 



Genus DRASSUS, Walck. 



Spiders of elongate flattish form, somberly coloured, the 

 prevailing tint being brown. Twelve species are recorded as 

 British, but up to the present Epping Forest has only furnished 

 specimens of four of them. 



Drassus lapidosus, Walck. — Fairly common over the 

 whole Forest area, under bark or loose stones, or amongst dry 

 earth. 



Drassus troglodytes, C. L., Koch. — A rather rare spider. 

 I have taken the very distinct female near Loughton. 



Drassus sylvestris, Bl. — Taken near Theydon Bois, by 



the Rev. O. P. Cambridge. 



Drassus blackwallii, Thor. — An immature specimen, 

 which I feel pretty sure belongs to this species, was found in an 



out-building at High Beach. 



The following British species have not yet occurred in the 



Forest : D. cupreus, BL, D. pubescens, Thor., D. macev, Thor., 



D. fevvuginens, BL, D. reticulatus, BL, D. minor, Cb., D. myticus^ 



Cb. and D. miiiusculus, L. Koch, 



Gemis PHOEOCEDUS, S/mon. 

 Spiders similar to Dmssus in many respects, but considerably 

 more brilliantly coloured. One extremely rare species, P. 

 bvaccatns, L. Koch, has been found in Britain, but it has not 

 occurred in the Forest. 



Ge?2tis PROSTHESIMA, Z. A'^c//. 



Spiders very similar to Drassus in structure and habits. 

 The caput, as a rule, is rather narrower than in that genus, and 

 the prevailing colour is black. 



Prosthesima subterranea, C. L., Koch. — A single male 

 has been taken at Loughton. 



