18 T. THORELL, 
A + placed before a generic name indicates that the name, as being 
previously engaged or found unsuitable for some other reason, has been 
abandoned in favour of some younger name; this mark, when placed before 
the complete name of a species, has the same signification with respect 
to the specific name. 
A date placed after a generic name indicates the year, in which 
that genus was made known and defined; after a complete or specific name 
it has the same signification with respect to the specific name. The addition 
of these dates to the names I look upon as of the greatest utility for 
preserving the proper denominations of the various species. 
Instead of setting forth the observations I have thought fit to make 
on the genera (and families) recognized by our three authors, in the order 
in which they appear in their works here referred to, and mixed with dis- 
quisitions respecting the species, I have preferred to treat these larger groups 
separatety. I have therefore first made up a systematical list or review of 
the sub-orders, families, sub-families and genera of European Spiders recog- 
nized by me. Each generic name is accompanied by the name of the 
author, who first published it, and the year when this took place; more- 
over by its etymological derivation, its synonyms, and the name of the 
species that typifies the genus; and lastly are subjoined such synonymical 
and critical remarks as I have thought appropriate. In almost all the 
genera which I have had the opportunity of examining, I have subjoined a 
short description of the form and armature of the tarsal and palpal claws, 
which organs have not yet attracted all the notice they appear to deserve >). 
— To this list, when in going through our authors, I have come upon the 
different genera, I have always subsequently referred. 
Under the head of each family I have introduced a short aecount 
of the characteristics of the sub-families and genera it comprises. These 
characteristics I have endeavoured as far as possible to derive from the 
number and position of the eyes and the form of the organs of the mouth, 
partly because such distinctive features are easily verified, partly because 
they are most generally (often too exclusively) used, at least in determining 
the limits of the generic groups. But I have also endeavoured to make 
use of the different form and number of the spinners, of differences in the 
conformation of the cephalothorax and abdomen, in the relative lengths and 
1) As regards the claws of spiders I may refer to Saviany’s admirable figures in 
"Déseription de l'Egypte", as also to OHLERT’S important treatise: "Beitrüge zu einer 
auf die Klauenbildung gegriindeten Diagn. u. Anordn. der Preuss. Spinnen.” 
