196 THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. 



dissection. I propose, therefore, to insert the following tables 

 which, although founded primarily upon the most obvious 

 rather than upon the most important characteristics, and 

 intended only for the identification of British species, will 

 no doubt assist the beginner in his endeavours to decide 

 the systematic position of his captures. Conclusions drawn 

 from this table, however, should be checked by reference 

 to the short descriptions of the families which will be 

 given in their proper position in the classified list. This 

 remark should be taken as applying to all analytical tables, for 

 without some such precaution they become a source of grave 

 danger. To pin one's faith to such scanty details as can be 

 included in them is to court inaccuracy, and the conclusions 

 drawn from such a procedure, although arrived at with com- 

 parative ease, do not in any wise convey that feeling of satisfac- 

 tion which is experienced when the structural characteristics of 

 a specimen are found to coincide, one by one, with the details of 

 a well-written description. 



TABLE OF FAMILIES OF BRITISH ARANEAE. 



1. fc,yes SIX . . . . . . . . 2 



Eyes eight . . . . . . . . 4 



2. Eyes in three widely separated groups, these 



groups forming a triangle with its apex in 



front . . . . . . . . Scytodidae 



Eyes in one group . . . . . . 3 



3. Openings of tube tracheae close to laminal 



tracheae and very distinct. Eyes of moder- 

 ate size. Falces rather powerful . . Dysderidae 

 Openings of tube tracheae well separated from 

 laminal tracheae and very obscure. Eyes 

 very large. Falces weak . . . . Oonopidae 



4. Eyes arranged in three groups of 3, 2, 3, placed 



transversely . . . . . . 5 



Eyes either in three groups of 2, 4, 2 or in two, 



three or four transverse rows . . . . 6 



5. Falces very powerful. Legs short and strong Atypidae 

 Falces very weak. Legs very long and slender Pholcidae 



6. Cribellum present . . . . . . 7 



Cribellum absent . . . . . . g 



7. Cephalic region narrow . . . . Uloboridae 

 Cephalic region more or less broad and massive 8 



8. Eyes in two rows, more or less parallel, and 



fairly closely grouped . . . . Dictynidac 



