NEW AND RARE BRITISH SPIDERS. 127 



HYCTIA PROMPTA, Bl. 



Salticus promptus Bl., " Brit, and Ir. Spiders" p. 59, pi. iii., fig. 32. 



Hyctia Nivoyi Cambr : " Spiders of Dorset," p. 560. 



This spider will now resume its position as a distinct species. 

 After an examination of the type specimen some years ago Mons : 

 Simon concluded that it was only an immature example of Hyctia 

 Nivoyi (Luc.), a spider I had then never seen ; but the capture, hy 

 myself and my nephew, Fredk. 0. P. Cambridge, of numerous 

 examples of it in all stages of growth at Bloxworth in May, 1888, 

 prove it to be quite distinct from Mr. Blackwall's Salticus promptus, 

 and, as I suspect, even of a different genus. It seems to me that 

 Salticus promptus is a Marpessa and very possibly the young of M. 

 pomatia AValck (S. Blackwallii Clark). However, as this is 

 uncertain, and Mons. Simon has a far wider acquaintance with 

 this group than myself, I have still for the present followed his 

 determination so far, at least, as the generic position of this 

 spider is concerned. The two species H. Nivoyi and H. promptus 

 differ entirely both in the cephalothorax and in the abdominal 

 pattern, as well as in the proportionate length and breadth of the 

 cephalothorax, which is shorter and less oblong than H. Nivoyi. 

 The thorax in H. promptus is marked witli distinct radiating lines, 

 and the abdomen has a central, elongated, tapering band on its 

 anterior half indicated by two rows of small black spots, and the 

 sides are marked with distinct oblique rows of black spots reaching 

 quite over to the middle of the upper side, where, however, they 

 may be taken to represent the normal angular lines or chevrons. 

 The spider itself is also of a much less elongate flattened form, 

 than H. Nivoyi. 



GEN : HASARIUS (Sim.) 

 HASARIUS ARCUATUS (Clk.) 



Ha*arius arcuatus Cambr., " Spiders Dors." p. 565. 



I have found this spider in Hampshire, and have received it 

 from Wokingham, but never met with in Dorsetshire until last 

 June, when I and my nephew found it among dead herbage in a 

 swamp at Morden Park, near Bloxworth. 



