212 THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. 



being very close together. Integument more or less 

 coriaceous, usually furnished with obtuse or clavate 

 bristles . . . . . . . . Oxyptlla 



Posterior row of eyes moderately curved, equidistant. 

 Integument not at all coriaceous, furnished with 

 simple hairs . . . . . . . . Diaea 



Genus XYSTICUS, C. L. Koch. 



Crab-spiders of moderate size, with distinct patterns upon 

 both cephalo-thorax and abdomen, usually of various shades of 

 brown, reddish brown, and buff. The males are far smaller than 

 the females, with proportionally longer legs, and are usually of 

 a much darker hue. The palpi of the males are very short, and 

 the tarsal joints rather large. The specific characters in this sex 

 are very distinct, but the females are not by any means easily 

 identified. The genus is a large one, but is very badly represented 

 in Epping Forest. 



Xysticus cristatus, Clerck. Common in all parts of the 

 Forest, amongst grass, heather, and other low herbage. 



Xysticus pini, Hahn. A female which appeared to belong 

 to this species was taken at Theydon Bois. 



Xysticus erraticus, Bl. A female from Loughton is the 

 only record. 



The species of Xysticus found in Britain but not as yet 

 recorded from the Forest are as follows : — A", lanio^ C. L. Koch ; 

 A', robustus, Hahn ; A', hvevipes, Bl. ; X. sabulosiis, Hahn ; X. ulmi, 

 Hahn ; A", luctnosiis, Bl. ; X. hictator, L. Koch ; X. hocliii, Thor. ; X, 

 bifasciatus, C. L. Koch ; and A', lyiiceiis, Latr. (a somewhat 

 doubtful species). 



GeJiiis OXYPTILA, Simon. 



Curious little crab-spiders, usually of dark colours, reddish- 

 brown, chocolate and yellowish-brown being the prevailing tints. 

 The integument is often somewhat coriaceous and is usually 

 furnished with peculiar obtuse or even clavate bristles. ' Most of 

 the species are found upon the ground amongst herbage, 

 especially in moist localities, well-watered meadows being 

 favourite habitats. A few species may be occasionally beaten 

 from trees. 



Oxyptila praticola, C. L. Koch. Beaten from trees in 

 various parts of the Forest. Mot at all uncommon. 



Oxyptila simplex, Cambr. A couple of females, apparently^ 



