2l8 



Guide to Belfast. 



The relations between the ascertained Spider fauna of 

 Ireland, of Ulster, and of Counties Antrim and Down, are 

 shown roughly by the annexed table, though the relatively 

 low figures in the second and third columns probably 

 indicate the need of fresh researches rather than a markedly 

 poor fauna. 



Some large and conspicuous species, which occur more 

 or less plentifully in the south and west of Ireland, seem to 

 be really absent from the Belfast district. Atypus piceus, 

 Microf/imata virescens, Misumena vafia, Tegena7-ia hibernica 

 and T. afri'ca, Age/ena labyrinthica, Dolomedes fimbriatiis, and 

 Pisaura mirabilis are good examples of these. Most of 

 them, evidently belonging to the southern faunistic group, 

 would not be expected to occur rear Belfast. But it is 

 especially surprising and noteworthy that a few spiders of 

 undoubtedly southern — some probably of a "Lusitanian" — 

 origin belong to the Down and Antrim fauna. Dysdera 

 crocota, Prostheshia Latreillei, and Theridion aiilicum are 

 examples of these. The bright-red Dysdera and the jet- 

 black Prosthesima — rare and local spiders in Great Britain — 

 seem specially characteristic of Ireland, being widely spread 

 and not uncommon over the whole country. 



