176 T. THORELL, 
1805. Sparassus Warck., Tabl. d. Aran., p. 39 (ad part.: "1° Fam. Les Mycro- 
mates, Mycromate’’). 
1806. Micrommata Latr., Gen. Crust. et Ins., I, p. 115. 
1861. Sparassus WEsTR., Aran. Suec., p. 405. 
1861. m Brackw., Spid. of Gr. Brit., I, p. 101. 
1864. 7 Srw., H. N. d. Araignées, p. 396 (ad partem). 
Type: Micrommata virescens (ÜLERCK). 
LATREILLE, in Nouv. Dict. d'Hist. Nat., l. c., states that his Micrommata 
eomprises the spiders that WALCKENAER calls "les Grottiformes" (Faune 
Par., II, p. 225), i. e. Aranea smaragdula, ornata, rosea (and A. accen- 
twata, which is placed there by mistake) In Gen. Crust. et Ins., Microm- 
mata smaragdula (Ar. virescens CLERCK.) is expressly adduced as the type 
of the genus. — The more recent synonym Sparassus we reserve for those 
species of Micrommata LATR. or Sparassus WALCK. for which WALCKENAER 
formed the family "Jes Opticiennes”, and which in the whole of their ap- 
pearance approach far nearer to WALCKENAER’S Olios (Heteropoda (LATR.) 
NOB.) than to the 1* family of his Sparassus. 
By some authors, e. g. WESTRING, Micrommata is referred to the 
Drassoide. It certainly differs considerably in general appearance from the 
more typical Thomisoidæ, the knees being so little depressed, that the ani- 
mal can hardly be called laterigrade; but the intimate relationship of Mi- 
crommata with the evidently laterigrade species of the next genus, Sparassus 
(WALCK.) NOB., is too palpable to allow of its being separated from the fa- 
mily before us and transferred to the Drassoidæ, although it may be con- 
sidered as forming the transition to these. — The form of the claws and 
claw-brushes is precisely that of the next following genus. 
The spiders united by HENTZ !) under the name of Micrommata, can- 
not belong to this genus, for they all have the posterior row of eyes strongly 
curved backwards, and the anterior row straight or curved forwards. They 
seem to approach much nearer to Dolomedes or to Dendrolycosa DOLESCH., 
than to Micrommata, as far at least as we can judge from the position of 
the eyes as described and figured by Hentz. 
Gen. 2. SPARASSUS (Wauck.) 1805. 
Deriv.: oagdoow, tear sunder. 
Syn.: 1805. Sparassus WaLck., Tabl. d. Aran., p. 39 (2° Fam. Les Optieiennes, Optices”, 
saltem ad part.). 
1) Aran. of the United States, in Bost. Journ. of Nat. Hist, V, p. 192. 
