THOMISIDAE 



413 



are much smaller and darker. It is common in some parts of 

 England, especially in the south, where it is to be sought for in 

 bushes and trees. 



Diaea dorsata is one of our prettiest British species, with light 

 green legs and cephalothorax, 

 and a yellow abdomen with a 

 red -brown central marking. 

 It is common in the New 

 Forest and other southern 

 localities. The female attains 

 a quarter of an inch in 

 length. 



TJcomisus onustus, a rare 

 spider among heather, is recog- 

 nisable by the shape of its 

 abdomen, which is broadest 

 behind and abruptly truncated. 

 "When adult the abdomen is a 

 pale yellow, but the young are 

 suffused with a pink hue closely 

 corresponding with that of the 

 heather blossom in winch they 

 are frecpieutly found sitting. 



(ii.) The PHILODKOMINAE 

 have the cephalothorax more 

 rounded in front, and the 

 legs, especially the second pair, FlG . 213. Thomisid spiders. A, \i o 



usually longer than in the wrescens, <i ; B, Xysticus pini, 9 ; C. 

 , '. . rpl Philodromus margaritatus, & ; D, TiMltis 



Inonusmae. lliere are ten oblongus,?. 



genera, of which the most 



important is Philodromvis, which numbers about a hundred speeies. 

 They are active spiders, living upoa bushes and lives, and most 

 of them are inhabitants of temperate regions. "We have about 

 twelve species in the Ilritish Isles. The eommonest. is Ph. aureolus, 

 which is abundant on bushes in most parts of the counln 

 Some species are very prettily marked, and one, /'//. um njn rilal n^ 

 (Fig. 213, C) presents a very good example of protective colora- 

 tion, being almost indistinguishable on the blue-^ivy lichen on 

 tree trunks, where it lies in wait for insects. 



Another important genus, includiii'j; some iil't\ species, is 



