XV CLASSIFICATION 415 
which ten or twelve species are known, some of which are very 
widely distributed, though confined to hot regions. These spiders, 
which are all large, are easily recognised by their extremely flat 
bodies and the peculiar arrangement of their eyes, all eight of 
them being placed more or less in a single transverse line. 
Fam. 28. Zoropsidae—The Zoropsidae are cribellate spiders 
of large size, with well-developed scopulae on tarsi and metatarsi. 
The cribellum is divided, and the calamistrum, which is very 
short, is not well developed. Most are inhabitants of hot regions, 
where they live under stones or bark. Zoropsis has six species, 
chiefly inhabitants of North Africa, though representatives occur 
on the European side of the Mediterranean. <Acanthoctenus has 
two species in South and Central America. 
Fam. 29. Platoridae—The Platoridae are Thomisid-lke, 
medium-sized spiders, generally with a uniform yellow or brown 
coloration. The spinnerets are their most characteristic features. 
The median pair present a large flat surface studded with two 
parallel rows of large fusulae, while the anterior pair are situated 
outside them, and are thus widely separated. There are only three 
genera, and very few species of this family. Plator insolens 
is a Chinese species. Doliomalus and Vectius belong to South 
America. 
Fam. 30. Agelenidae—Sedentary spiders with slight sexual 
dimorphism ; with three tarsal claws and devoid of scopulae. 
The Agelenidae spin a more or less extensive web of fine 
texture, usually accompanied by a tubular retreat. Our com- 
monest cellar spiders belong to this group, which may be 
divided into three sub-families, CYBAEINAE, AGELENINAE, and 
HAHNIINAE. 
Gi.) The CYBAEINAE include some sixteen genera, of which 
two deserve special mention on account of the peculiar habits of 
the spiders belonging to them. 
Desis is a genus of marine spiders, said to live on coral reefs 
below high-water mark, and to remain in holes in the rock during 
high tide, enclosed in cocoons impermeable to the sea-water. At 
low tide it is stated that they come forth and prey upon small 
crustaceans. Argyroneta has only one species, A. aquatica, spread 
throughout Europe and North and Central Asia. It is the well- 
known “ Water-spider,” which is so often an object of interest in 
aquaria, 
