608 Mr. Blackvvall's Descriptions of new Species of Spiders. 



Gen. Ergatis. 



Oculi subsequales, in seriebus 2 transversis in anticâ cephalo-tiioracis parte 

 positi; seriei utriusque intermedii quadrani referentes, latérales ferè con- 

 tigui in tuberculis oljliquè positi. Maxillœ médiocres, labium versus 

 declinatoe, basi convexee, apice rotundatœ, intùs plus quam extiis abrupte 

 curvatse. Labium subtriangiilare. Pedes hvev&s, médiocres; pari Imo 

 longissimo, dein 2do, 3tio brevissimo. Tarsi triunguiculati ; unguibus 2 

 superioribus curvatis pectinatis, inferiore prope basin inflexo. 



Ergatis henigna. {Theridion henignum, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Aran. livr. v. 

 pi. 8. fig. 1. DrassKs parvitlns, BIfickw. Research, in Zool. p. 337- Dic- 

 tynna henigna, Koch, Die Arachniden, b. iii. p. 2/. tab. 83. fig. 184 — 5.) 



Ergatis latens. (Dictj/nna latens, Koch, Die Arachn. b. iii. p. 29. tab. 83. 

 fig. 186.) 



Ergatis viridissima. {Drassus viridissimus, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. 

 t. 1. p. 631.) 



In aildition to the aljove-named species, it is probable that the Drassus 

 flavescens of Kummer miglit be included in the genus Ergatis, as it appears, 

 from the description given of it by INI. Walckenaer {Histoire Naturelle des In- 

 sectes Aptères, tome i. p. 632), to have a close relation of affinity with Ergatis 

 viridissima ; but it would be precipitate to place it among the Ciniflonidœ 

 before it has been proved to possess the essential characters of that family. 



When my attention was first directed to Ergatis henigna, in the autumn 

 of 1832, I supposed it to be new to arachnologists, and described it in the 

 London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine, vol. iii. p. 43/ — 8, under the 

 appellation of Clubiona parimla. Soon after, having had an opportunity of 

 comparing this spider with specimens of Ergatis viridissima received from 

 the continent, I transferred it to the genus Drassus, with the PhytopJiike, to 

 which genus it appeared to be allied (Researches in Zoology, p. 33/). At 

 this period I was not aware of its specific identity with the Theridion henignum 

 of M. Walckenaer, and I am quite unable to comprehend why so accomplished 

 and discriminating an observer should still persist in separating it from the 

 forms with which it is most intimately connected by its organization and 

 œconomy. 



