South Indian Arachnology. 251 



also on the withered leaf of Jatropha (Euphorbiacese) which 

 had attached to it the empty cocoon measuring about 10 mm. 

 in diameter. 



Locality. Madras city and beacli ; Kotagiri, Nilgiris. 



82. Peucetia viridana (Stol.)=P. nigropunctata (Sim.). 



Found on a green leaf eating a caterpillar, on the large 

 white flower of Datura, on Jatropha, and on the fruit of 

 Abut Hon indicum. The cocoon was on the Abut Hon fruit, 

 the eggs being covered by a compact tissue of silk, through 

 which they are easily seen. Number of eggs present was 

 fifty and the diameter of the egg-mass 10 mm., for it is 

 circular in outline. Cocoon also found attached to the leaf 

 of Cleome viscosa and guarded by the mother. It is white, 

 spherical, diameter 7 mm., and the outer covering is produced 

 into numerous white, projecting, little blunt points which give 

 it a very characteristic appearance. 



Locality. Madras city, Pallavaram. 



Pocock, p. 255, designates the family as u hunting spiders, 

 spinning no web, living amongst grass and other plants and 

 fastening their cocoons to the leaves or stalks." This 

 description is quite good, but he omits the interesting fact 

 that they all can jump readily, like the next family, the 

 Attids, and are therefore somewhat difficult to catch. 



{Simon (ii. p. 375) says that the Peucetia appear to affect 

 glandular plants. They do so here and seem specially fond 

 of Jutropha glandulifera, a very sticky plant, plentiful in the 

 scrub-jungle around Madras city. I have also noticed them 

 on Cleome viscosa, which is a common weed by the road-sides 

 and on the Beach. 



Oxtopes (Latr.), 1804. 

 83. Oxyopes rufistemis (Poc). 



Commonly found running on hedges of Clerodendron, etc., 

 throughout the year. 



Locality. Madras city ; Dolosbage, Ceylon (May). 



84. Oxyopes liindostanicus (Poc). 



The cocoon is placed on a withered leaf suspended on 

 horizontal threads between two branches. The mother 

 protects the cocoon, covering it with her body, and will not 

 desert it even when touched. The spider greatly resembles 

 ■birds' droppings on the leaf, the legs being held close up to 

 the sides of the body. This species is the commonest in 



