210 THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. 



longer than those of the thud and fourth pairs, but seldom greatly so. Claw 

 tuft^ are usually well-developed. Abdomen usually somewhat shoit, often 

 broader behind than in front. Spinners very short and compact. 



The spiders of this family are usually found upon shrubs 

 and trees. They spin no snare but capture their prey by stealth. 

 In their movements they are very similar to the Thomisidae, but 

 their rate of progression is much greater, and they are con- 

 sequently somewhat difficult to capture. If a specimen be held 

 by a single leg, it will at once escape by parting company with 

 the imprisoned member. 



TABLE OF PHIL0DR0:MIDAE. 



1. Cephalo-thorax wider than long. Legs IV. longest .. Thanatus 

 Cephalo-thorax as long as, or longer than wide. Legs II. 



longest . . . . • • . . 2 



2. Cephalo-thorax about as wide as long. Eyes of posterior 



row nearly equidistant . . . . . . Philodvomus 



Cephalo-thorax considerably longer than wide. Posterior 



lateral eyes widely separated from the central . . TihellliS 



(Jenus TIBELLUS, Simon. 



The long and narrow cephalo-thorax and abdomen and the 



arrangement of the eyes will be quite sufficient to identify this 



^enus. It contains one species w^hich is not common, but widely 



distributed in Epping Forest. 



Tibellus oblongus, Walck. Occurs in several localities, 

 amongst coarse grass and rushes. It often rests with its four 

 anterior legs stretched forward, and the posterior backwards 

 upon a dry grass blade or sedge, and in that position is only 

 detected with great difficulty. 



Genus THANATUS, C. L. Koch. 



Thanatus stviatus, C. L. Koch, is not uncommon in Britain, 

 and T. fovmiciiius, Clk., has also been taken, but neither has, up 

 to the present, occurred in the Forest. 



Genus PHIL0DR0:MUS, IFalck. 



This genus includes a considerable number of British 

 spiders which are found, as a rule, upon trees and shrubs, and 

 usually obtained by beating. They run with great rapidity, and 

 in a peculiarly erratic manner. Epping Forest seems to be 

 unexpectedly poor in these spiders, only three species having 

 been recorded. 



Philodromus aureolus, Clk. This species occurs in pro- 

 fusion in many parts of the Epping Forest. There is a very 



