1898.] CTEXIFORM SPIDEES OF APEICA, AS.A31X, AND SYEIA. 27 



A single adult male of this iine spider was kindly submitted to 

 me for description by the E.ev. O. Pickard Cambridge, who 

 received it from Xatal. 



II. Three-clawed Ctekifoem Spidees. 



II. a. Introduction. 



These spiders, including Cupiennius, Simon, Lycoctenus, F. Cb., 

 Tkalassius, Simon, and Dohpceus, Thorell, will doubtless fall under 

 the family Pisauridce. The first two genera must, I think, be 

 separated from the others under a different subfamily, for which I 

 suggest the name Lycoctenince, while the other t^^o will form a 

 group under the subfamily Dolomedince. Of the habits of Cupien- 

 nius I cannot speak with certainty, though I should fancy that the 

 spiders are probably more or less usually found in marshy, swampy 

 places. Like other PisauridcB they carry the egg-cocoon under the 

 sternum. Lycoctenus is essentially lacustrine in its habit, though, 

 like Dolomedes, often found wandering long distances from its 

 headquarters. 



The habits of the two other genera Dolopoeixs and Thalassius are 

 also similar, the spiders themselves very much resembling an 

 elongate Dolomedes. The marking of the European Dolomedes 

 fimhriatus with elongate bands of dull yellow having much the 

 same disposition as those present in these two genera may be 

 accounted for, possibly, by the fact that this arrangement of colour 

 renders them exceedingly difficult to observe when crouched 

 lengthwise along the stem or blade of the fading, yellow-tinted 

 sedge-grass. 



Mr. Cummiug has contributed a valuable note on the habit of 

 Thalassius, taken on tlie Persian Gulf (see p. 31). 



The genera may be distinguished as follows : — 



Genera. 



A. Centi'al anterior eyes distinctly larger than central 



posteriors. Clypeus about equal to length of ocular 

 quadrangle. Tibiae of first pair of legs much 

 longer (by half) than carapace. Lateral pale 

 bands on carapace very broad, extending to the 

 margin Dolopceus, Thor. 



B. Central anterior eyes not larger than central 



posteriors. Clypeus, in height, equal to the length 

 of ocular quadrangle. Tibiae of first pair of 

 legs as long or slightly shorter than carapace. 

 Lateral pale bands on carapace narrow and remote 

 from the margin ; sometimes absent Thalassius, E. Sim. 



Genus Dolop(eus, Thor. 

 {Dolomedes, Doleschall.) 



Generic Diagnosis. The same as Thalassius except as indicated in 



the differential table. 



