SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



47 



hand bordered with a deep red-brown stripe. The 

 female is much paler than the male. This species is 

 rare. 



GENUS DIAEA THQR. 



In this genus the two rows of eyes are nearly con- 

 centric, the centrals forming a quadrilateral figure 



Fig. XIII. Characteristics of Genus Oxyptila. 



Cephalo-thorax viewed from above ; eyes and falces seen from 

 in front ; side view of spider, legs and palpi truncated ; maxillae 

 and labium ; and sternum. 



whose length is greater than its [breadth. The first 

 and second pairs of legs are very long, especially in 

 the male. 



Diaea dorsata Fabr. ( Thomisus Jloricolens Bl. ) 

 Length. Male 4.5 mm., female 6 mm. 

 Cephalo-thorax of the female yellowish-green or 

 occasionally bright green. The legs of the female 

 are yellowish-green, but in the male are reddish- 

 brown. The cephalo-thorax of the male is reddish- 

 brown with two dark stripes. This species is not 

 uncommon. 



Diaea devoniensis Cambr. 

 Cephalo-thorax and legs of a brownish-yellow 

 colour. An extremely rare spider. 



GENUS JMISUMENA LATR. 



This genus may be distinguished from Diaea by 

 the smaller size of the fore-lateral eyes, and the 

 stronger curve of the anterior row. The eyes of the 

 hinder row are equidistant. 



Misumena vatia Ok. {Thomisus a/ reus Bl.) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 9 mm. 



The central band on the cephalo-thorax is yellowish- 

 white, edged with dull green, in the female, and 

 greenish-while, tinged with reddish-brown, in the 

 male. This species is rather common. 



Misumsna truncata Pall. 



Length of female 7.5 mm. 



Similar in many respects to 31. vatia Ok., but 

 darker. The tubercles on the caput have also a 

 somewhat different form. This rare species has been 

 found in the neighbourhood of London. 



GENUS THOMISUS WLK. 



In this genus the eyes are all very small. The 

 caput has a conical prominence on each side. The 

 distance between the hind-central eyes is greater than 

 that between one of them and the adjacent lateral 

 eye. 



Thomisus onustus Wlk. (T. abbreviatus Bl.) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 8.5 mm. 



The general colour of this spider is yellow, or 



yellowish-brown, but immature specimens are often 



found, of a pink tint. This pink coloration is an 



excellent protection for the spider, which usually lurks 



Xusticus cristatus (natural size 1 . 



in the flowers of the heather. The species is not 

 common, but seems generally distributed over the 

 Southern counties. 



It will be noticed that in many cases, as in the last 

 and the next, the dissimilarity between two adjacent 

 families is very great. It should be remembered, 

 however, that exotic groups often exist which help to 

 bridge over the apparent gap. The systematic posi- 

 tion of the Thomisidae has been a matter of some 

 discussion, as this family appears to possess affinities 

 in common with several widely separated groups. 

 ( To be continued. ) 



