SPIDERS 



ARACHNIDA 



As long ago as 1861 a 'List of Southport Spiders,' by the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, was 

 published in A Handbook for Southport by David McNicoll, M.D. and edition, pp. 102-109. 

 Additions have subsequently been made by Mr. C. Warburton, of Christ's College, Cambridge, 

 and Dr. A. Randell Jackson, M.D., of Hexham, to the Southport list, whilst Mr. Linnsus 

 Greening, F.L.S., of Warrington, the Rev. J. Harvey Bloom, and Mr. W. Falconer have 

 contributed various species to the county list. The present author has also been able to add 

 considerably to the number during rambles in the fell and valley districts of Duddon Vale and 

 Coniston, as well as on the coast at Blackpool and Grange. The number of species of spiders 

 recorded reaches two hundred and thirty-one (231) ; of Pseudo-scorpions one only, and of 

 Harvestmen seven ; the total number of spiders recorded as British being between five and six 

 hundred ; of Pseudoscorpions 22, of Harvestmen 24 species. The list of all these Arachnida 

 might be greatly increased, for Lancashire affords an abundant variety of good localities with 

 its fells and vales, its sand-dunes and southern sea-board. In the following list where no 

 authority or collector is quoted the author takes responsibility. 



ARANE^E 



ARACHNOMORPH& 

 DYSDERID.E 



Spiders with six eyes and two pairs of stigmatic 

 openings, situated close together on the genital rima ; 

 the anterior pair communicating with lung-books, the 

 posterior with tracheal tubes. Tarsal claws, two in 

 Dysdera, three in Harpactes and Segestria. 



1 . Harpactes hombergii, Scopoli. 



Grange ; Southport (A. R. J.). 

 Not common. Found under bark of trees and 

 amongst moss. Recognizable by its linear ant-like 

 form, black carapace, pale clay-yellow abdomen and 

 three tarsal claws. 



2. Segestria senoculata, Linnaeus. 



Grange, Broughton, Coniston ; Warrington 



(L. G.) ; Southport (A. R. J.). 

 Not common. Under bark of trees, in the crevices 

 of loose stone walls, and amongst detached rocks. 

 Recognizable by its linear form and the black dia- 

 mond-shaped blotches on the dorsal surface of the 

 abdomen. 



3. Oonops pulcher, Templeton. 



Grange ; Southport (A.R.J.). 

 Rare. A very small linear brick-red spider, found 

 beneath stones and amongst dry grass. It possesses six 

 large oval pearly-white eyes. 



DRASSID^E 



Spiders with eight eyes situated in two transverse 

 rows. The tracheal openings lie immediately in front 

 of the spinners. The tarsal claws are two in number, 

 but the anterior pair of spinners are set wide apart at 

 their base, and the maxillae are more or less impressed 

 across the middle. They are usually found beneath 

 stones, logs, and bark of trees, amongst dry leaves in 

 woods, and one species usually occurs in outbuildings. 

 They are all nocturnal in their habits. 



4. Drassodes lapidosus, Walckenaer. 



Coniston, Lancaster, Duddon Vale, etc. etc. ; 



Southport (A. R.J.). 



Very common under stones all over the fells. The 

 male dwells within a silken domicile together with the 

 female, and becoming mature earlier awaits patiently 

 the coming of age of the female. Known also as 

 Drassus lapidicolens. 



5. Drassodes cupreus, Blackwall. 



Coniston, Duddon Vale, Southport (O. P.-C., 



A.R.J.). 



Very common, and in similar situations to the last 

 species. It is rather smaller, coppery red in colour 

 with a black marginal band to the sternum. The 

 mandibles differ also in their armature and the vulva 

 is different to that of D. lapidosus. It may take rank 

 as a sub-species. Known also as Drassus cupreus, 



6. Drassodes reticulatus, Blackwall. 



Lancaster, J. Blackwall. 



The types of this species having been lost, it is 

 difficult to say what it may be. 



7. Drassodes pubescens, Thorell. 



Garstang (L. G.). 



A rare species, resembling a very small D. lapidosus, 

 and can be recognized by a comparison of the 

 genitalia in both sexes as well as by a different relative 

 position of the eyes (O. P.-C.). 



8. Drassodes troglodytes, C. L. Koch. 



Southport (O. P.-C., A. R. J.) ; Coniston, Dud- 

 don Vale. 



This species is common under stones on the fells. 

 It is known also as Drassus troglodytes and D. clavator 



o. Prosthesitna nigrita, Fabricius. 

 Southport (C. W.). 



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