and rare British Spiders. 243 



will be best seen by comparing the figures given (PI. VIII.) 

 of these parts in the two species. 



The maxillai) labium, and sternum present no marked dif- 

 ference from those of A. piceuSj nor does the abdomen: the 

 spinners also (6 in number) are similar ; the terminal joints, 

 however, of those of the superior pair had been accidentally 

 broken off before the example came into my possession. 



A single adult male was sent to me some years ago by the 

 late Mr. Richard Beck, of Cornhill, London, by whom it was 

 found in the neighbourhood of Hastings. I have hesitated to 

 describe this species until I had been able to compare it with 

 continental examples of A. piceus, as well as to obtain the 

 opinion of M. Eugene Simon upon its specific identity. 



M. Simon has kindly sent me lately examples of A. ptceus, 

 and characterizes the present as a very distinct species from 

 all known to him on the continent of Europe. 



An adult female, agreeing with the male above described in 

 the form of the ocular prominence, was found by myself, in 

 the autumn of 1855, in the Island of Portland, and is no doubt 

 of the same species. 



Genus Micaria, C. Koch. 



Micaria scintillans. 



Drassus scintillans, Cambr. Trans. Liim. Soc. xxvii. p. 412, pi. 54. no. 

 12, A. 



By an unaccountable oversight this spider was unfortu- 

 nately omitted from my " Systematic List of British Spiders," 

 Linn. Trans. 1874, vol. xxx. p. 321. 



In a recent visit to the Isle of Portland I found both sexes, 

 Adult and in considerable abundance, running in bright sun- 

 shine on the grassy slopes towards the sea near Pennsyl- 

 vania Castle. A large blackish ant was abundant on the 

 same slopes, and it was exceedingly difficult at first to distin- 

 guish the spiders. The hue of the two in the bright sun- 

 shine was remarkably similar, and their respective movements 

 ridiculously alike. 



The only way in which I could, with any certainty, cap- 

 ture the spiders (owing to the general swiftness of their move- 

 ments, and the rapidity with which they glided down among 

 the stems and roots of the herbage) was by suddenly and 

 quickly popping an empty inverted glass tube of good size 

 over then ; and as they invariably rushed up the tube, it was 

 easy to transfer them thence to the spirit-bottle. 



