THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. I93 



These spiders as a rule spin no snare, but usually fabricate silken tubes 

 in crevices or beneath loose bark. 



Three families are represented in Britain — Dysderidae, 

 Oonopidae, Scytodidae. 



SERIES II. DRASSIFORMAE. 



Spiders with usually eight eyes and with the tube tracheae opening in a 

 small transverse slit either just in front of the spinners or more rarely in the 

 centre of the abdomen. In one family Argyronetidae, two tube-tracheal open- 

 ings are present, placed very much as in the Dysderiformae. The eyes are 

 sometimes heterogeneous and sometimes homogeneous being then of the 

 diurnal type. The tarsus of the male palpus is more or less enlarged and 

 hollowed to receive the palpal organs. In the case of many of the more 

 primitive types the alveolus is small and the joint only slightly enlarged, 

 whereas in most of the highly specialised families the joint is greatly 

 expanded and the alveolus often occupies the greater part of its lower surface. 

 In many cases where these organs are of great complexity it is rather difficult 

 to recognise the exact condition of the joint, but careful .examination in 

 different positions, aided occasionally by the use of the dissecting needle will 

 convince one that the form of the tarsus itself, however modified it may be, 

 has been produced by the hollowing out of the under surface of the more or 

 less enlarged joint. It will be noticed as a consequence that the alveolus 

 points directly downwards. The tibial joint cf the male palpus is usually 

 furnished with one or more apophyses. These are usually in the form of 

 strong, chitinous projections, and are very often of a darker colour than the 

 general surface of the joint. When only one apophysis is found it generally 

 springs from the anterior external angle of the joint, and when several are 

 present the most highly developed one will usually occupy this position 

 Patellary and femoral apophyses are occasionally present. The genital 

 aperture of the female is provided with more or less developed epigynal plates 

 but is without a cla\us. The tarsal claws are sometimes two and sometimes 

 three in number. 



These spiders as a rule spin no true snares, but a few species surround 

 the extremity of their tubular retreats with a more or less extensive sheet of 

 web and lie in wait for insects which may be unfortunate enough to alight 

 upon this structure. A well known example of this form of web is found in 

 the " cobweb " with which the corners of our rooms are adorned (?) 



Fifteen families of Drassiforrriae are represented in this 

 country, namely Drassidae, Clubionidae, Anyphaenidae, Spar- 

 assidae, Philodromidae, Thomisidae, Salticidae, Agelenidae, 

 Hahnidae, Argyronetidae, Dictynidae, Eresidae, Pisauridae, 

 Lycosidae, Oxyopidae. 



SERIES III. ARGIOPIFORMAE. 



Eight-eyed spiders with one pair of laminal tracheae and an indistinct 

 opening leading to tube-tracheae placed not far from the spinners. In one or 

 two instances tube tracheae are apparently absent. The tarsal claws are 



