l86 THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. 



respectively. Each palpal coxa is furnished with an 

 appendage in the form of a well developed plate known 

 as a Maxilla. The maxilla often appears to be simply 

 an enlargement of the coxal joint itself, but a transverse 

 striation is usually evident, indicating the real dis- 

 tinctness of the two parts. The tibia of the male palpus 

 is often furnished with one or more processes, known 

 as Apophyses, and a patellary or femoral apophysis is 

 occasionally present. In the female the palpus is 

 more or less pediform, sometimes with and sometimes 

 without, a terminal claw. In the male, however, 

 a most curious modification of this organ is observed. 

 The tarsal joint is as a rule more or less split or 

 excavated, and connected with it is the external repro- 

 ductive organization of the spider. The cup-like 

 depression formed by the excavation of the tarsus is 

 often termed the Alveolus. The spermal secretory 

 glands are of an exceedingly simple structure, and their 

 external opening, which is small and only detected with 

 difficulty, is situated upon the underside of the abdomen, 

 some distance in front of its central part. From this 

 aperture the spermal fluid is absorbed, directly or in- 

 directly, by means of the palpal organs and thence 

 injected into the ovaries of the female. To the araneo- 

 logist the palpi of male spiders are of paramount import- 

 ance not only as reliable indications of specific identity 

 but as characters upon which much of our system- 

 atic classification may with advantage be based. More 

 detailed descriptions of the palpi will be given when the 

 limitations of the groups founded upon the variation of 

 these curious structures claim our consideration. It 

 should be remembered that statements as to the position 

 of certain parts of the palpus are made on the under- 

 standing that the limb is extended horizontally 

 forward. 

 Legs. These are invariably eight in number, attached to the 

 sternum, and each consists of seven joints termed 

 respectively Coxa, Tvochanter, Femur, Patella, Tibia, 

 Metatarsus and Tarsus. The term " Protarsus " has 

 been suggested as more accurately describing the 

 position of the joint here termed the metatarsus. Theor- 



