some ohsciire British Spiders. 73 



a. Eyes of posterior row almost 



equal in size, centrals slightly 

 larger. 



1. Falcesofmales much attenuated 



towards the apex and very 



much divergent Microneta, Menge, Sim. 



2. Falces of males not attenuated 



or divergent ; similar in both 



sexes Sintula, Sim. 



b. Eyes of posterior row unequal ; 



centrals very much larger .... S'l/edra, Sim. 



Genus Leptyphantes, Menge, Simon. 



This genus, originally instituted by Herr Menge, has been 

 adopted by M. Simon for the reception of a certain number of 

 spiders which, in company with many other species more or 

 less closely allied, have hitherto been described temporarily 

 for convenience' sake by our English arachnologi.sts under the 

 generic title Linyphia. 



The species which the learned French arachnologist has 

 thus gathered together seem to form a fairly distinct little 

 group. The close grouping of the eyes, those of the posterior 

 row not being more than one diameter apart, the sternum never 

 longer than broad, and the absonce of any spines upon the 

 femora of tlie second, third, and fourth pairs of legs render 

 them distinct from a certain number of forms otherwise closely 

 allied and very much alike in general appearance, while the 

 presence of at least one erect spine upon the metatarsi will 

 distinguish them readily from another group of very closely 

 allied spiders which M. Simon separates under the generic 

 name Bathyphantes. 



The different species which are thus conveniently assembled 

 under a distinctive name may be again broadly divided inter 

 se by the following character : — minutus, Bl., nebulosuSj Sund., 

 alacr{s,3\., leprosus, Ohl., exhibit several (four or five) spines 

 upon the metatarsi of the first two pairs of legs at least, while 

 the rest, e. g. cristatus^ Menge, pallidus^ Cambr., zebrinus, 

 Men., tenehricola, Wid., &c., have only one spine upon the 

 upperside of the metatarsi near the base. 



For further characters we must turn to the general colour 

 of the spider, as a rule similar in both sexes, and to the abdo- 

 minal pattern ; but it is often, indeed almost always, necessary 

 to examine very carefully under a strong simple lens or the 

 1-iuch objective of a compound instrument the palpus and 

 organs of the male and the epigynal process of the female, in 

 order to distinguish each sex individually of the various 

 species. 



