Araneides of the United States. 199 
Habits. Araneides wandering after prey, making no web, 
but concealing themselves in a silken valve, for the purpose 
of casting their skin, or for hibernation. _ 
Benarka, I have formerly stated my reason for preserving 
the name Arrvs, given by Walckenier to these araneides. 
The species being very numerous, it would facilitate their 
study to arrange them in suitable subdivisions ; but this is a 
difficult task. The families proposed by Walckendée are. 
vaguely characterized and insufficient. The relative position 
of the eyes offers some variations, but I could not succeed 
in obtaining satisfactory characters for subdivision from those 
Variations. As the least objectionable mode ; I have taken the 
relative lengths of the legs for the formation of my six fami- 
les; that classification is somewhat artificial, but so is any 
other proposed. Moreover, the fifth tribe (that of the Salta- 
tori) offers a very natural subdivision. The third pair of 
legs, when longest, enables spiders to leap to an astonishing 
ditiócó; The habits of the subgenus Arrus will be best 
described as the history of the different species. 
Tribe T. vdd, first pair of legs py ene and 
largest, the fourth ne 
(Pugnatoriæ.) 1. ATTUS AUDAX. 
Plate XVII. Fig. 6,7.. 
Description. Black; abdomen with a spot, several dots 
and lines, White ; ehdliconss brassy green ; feet with gray and 
white hairs, 1. 4. 9. a 3 Jed 
ations. There is some cuca in idees to the 
distinetion between this and A. 3 punctatus, but. there can 
be little doubt that there are two different species. This 
rie 8 very bold, often jumping on the bani ex threat- 
Hii Massachusetts 
