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SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



Oxyptila trux Bl. ( Thomisus trux Bl.) 

 Length. Male 3.5 mm., female 4 mm. 

 Cephalo-thorax yellowish-red with four very dark 



brown bands. Legs yellowish- brown without spots. 



This is a rare spider. 



Oxyptila atom, aria Panz. ( J'homisus pallidus 

 + 71 versutus Bl. ) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 5 mm. 



In this species the colours are not so brilliant as 

 in 0. trux Bl. The legs are of a reddish tint. The 

 colours are very subject to variation, var. pallidus Bl. 

 being a very pale variety. It is not a common spider, 

 but is widely distributed. 



Oxyptila flsxa Cambr. 



A very rare spider, first discovered in 1894. 



Oxyptila simplex Cambr. 



Length. Male 3.5 mm. female 3.8 mm. 



This spider is nearly allied to 0. trux Bl. , but may 

 be distinguished by its plainer colours and also (in 

 the male) by the form of the radial apophysis. It is 

 a rare and local species. I took a single specimen 

 at Hastings in April 1900.. 



GENUS XYSTICUS C. L. KOCH. 



In this genus the hinder row of eyes is less curved 

 than in Oxyptila. The hind centrals are never nearer 

 together than each is to the lateral eye next to it. 

 The four central eyes form a quadrilateral figure, 

 which is never longer than broad. The spiders in- 

 cluded in this genus are found in varied situations, 

 both on the ground and upon trees and shrubs. 



Xystieus cristatus Ok. ( Thomisus cristatus 

 Bl.) 



Length. Male 5 mm., female 7.5 mm. 



This species is by far the commonest of the genus, 

 and may be found during the greater part of the year 

 among grass, heather, and low plants of almost any 

 kind. 



Xystieus viatieus C. L. Koch. 



Length. Male 5 mm., female 6.5 mm. 



This spider is very similar to X. cristatus Ok. , but 

 among other differences it has a number of bristles 

 on the cephalo-thorax and abdomen which are far 

 stronger and more prominent than in that species. 

 It has a wide range in Britain, but is rare. 



Xystieus pini Hahn. ( Thomisus aiidax Bl. ) 

 Length. Male 4 mm., female 5.5 mm. 

 This species may be distinguished from X. crislattis 

 Ok., both by its smaller size and also by the intensity 

 of its colours, the ground colour often being almost 

 white and the darker parts, especially of the male, 

 being nearly black. It is not very common, but is 

 well distributed, being usually found on furze-bushes. 

 The colours are subject to a good deal of variation, 

 but the varieties are fairly distinct. 



Xystieus lanio C. L. Koch. 



Length. Male 5 mm., female 6.5 mm. 



This spider may be easily distinguished from the 

 foregoing by its reddish colouring. It is not rare, 

 and is usually found near oak-trees. 



Xystieus sabulosus Hahn. (Thomisus rufo- 

 pictus Cambr.) 



Length. Male 5 mm., female 6 mm. 



The colours of this spider are subject to great 

 variation and are almost indescribable. It may often 

 be found on the bare ground, but its varied and 

 mottled colours afford it great protection, as it is 

 almost impossible to detect it until it moves. A 

 very striking variety, with the fore part of the 

 abdomen of a bright reddish tint, is known as var. 

 rufopictus Cambr. 



Xystieus cambridgii Bl. 



Length. Female 8 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax yellowish-brown with pale mark- 

 ings and a central and marginal bands of a yellowish- 

 white. Legs short, strong. An extremely rare 

 spider. 



Xystieus luctuosus Bl. ( Thomisus luctuosus 

 Bl.) Similar in size and form to X. lanio C. L. 

 Koch, but the red markings are replaced by deep 

 brown. The palpal organs are very simple. A 

 rather rare spider. 



Xystieus lyneeus Latr. ( Thomisus atomarius 

 Bl.) 



Length. Female 5 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax brownish-yellow, with two dark 

 brown longitudinal lines on each side. Legs, palpi, 

 and abdomen freckled with numerous dark brown 

 spots. A rare spider. 



Xystieus robustus Hahn. (Xystieus morio 

 C. L. Koch.) 



Length. Male 6 mm. 



This spider is of a short robust form, and of a deep 

 blackish-brown colour. It is extremely rare. 



Xystieus luetator L. Koch. 

 Length. Male 6 mm. 



An extremely rare species, allied to X. bifascialus 

 C. L. Koch, but more richly and brilliantly coloured. 



Xystieus bifasciatus C. L. Koch. 



Length. Male 6.5 mm., female 8.5 mm. 



This spider resembles in form X. robustus Hahn., 

 but its colouring is not so dark. The palpal organs 

 and radial joint also differ greatly from that species. 



Xystieus ulmi Hahn. 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 5 mm. 



Closely allied to A', erraticus Bl., but the abdomen 

 of the male is of a more elongated form, and the 

 digital joint of the palpus is smaller. 



Xystieus erraticus Bl. 



Length. Male, 4.5 mm., female 6.5 mm. 

 Cephalo-thorax pale reddish-brown with a pale 



