1^0 The spiders of epping forest. 



Fig. V. Caput in profile, showing striae on falx. 



Fig. VI. Caput in profile, showing basal protuberance of falx (if.) 



Fig. VII. Leg a. Coxa. 



b. Trochanter. e. Tibia. 



c. Femur. f. Metatarsus. 



d. Patella. g. Tart us. 



Fig. VIII. Palpus, male. 



a. Maxillary plate. e. Tibia. 



b. Trochanter. f. Tarsus. 



c. Femur. g. Palpal organs. 



d. Patella. 



Fig IX. Vulva, without clavus. 



Fig. X. Hind portion of thorax of Phyllonethis, showing striations 



Fig. XI. Vulva with C/ati«s (a.) 



II.—CLA SSIFICA TION. 

 In order to satisfactorily sub-divide this difficult and 

 complex Order it becomes absolutely necessary to enter into the 

 consideration of certain exotic forms. A system founded upon 

 a limited fauna, such as that of the British Isles, would of 

 necessity be more or less artificial and misleading, and certain 

 groups which might then appear quite distinct, would become 

 almost inseparable upon the insertion of exotic species. The 

 difficulty of establishing a satisfactory system of classification is 

 vastly increased by the widely diverse opinions held by various 

 authorities as to the comparative importance of certain portions 

 of the structure of the creatures under consideration. Again, 

 unless certain links in the chain of evolutionary development have 

 disappeared, classification becomes an impossibility, species, 

 genera and families merging into each other to form perplexing 

 and almost unmanageable series. In the case of the Araneae so 

 many of the earlier forms ren)ain, that groups whose more highly 

 specialised representatives are totally dissimilar become insepar- 

 ably linked by intermediate species and defy any attempt at a 

 satisfactory broad sub-division by reason of the gradual develop- 

 ment and elimination of those structural characteristics upon 

 which our systems are based. With the discovery of new species 

 the classification of a group becomes as a rule more complex and 

 difficult, forms being thus found to bridge over the gaps between 

 previously distinct genera and families. Were our knowledge 

 of any group absolutely complete, both in regard to modern and 

 extinct forms, classification would become quite impossible, as we should 



