SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



Win. Jeffery from "Zoologist," L878. North HeUx horterisis Mull. This is rather more local in 



Hants, rare (H. P. F.). 

 "Helix nemoralis Linn. Besides the common varieties 

 in colour and markings there are here and there in 

 the south of the county colonies of the crimson - 

 banded form with pink lips. There are also 

 some forms apparently hybrid between this and 

 the next species. 



the county than the last species. On Hayling 

 Island a remarkable form occurs, yellow with a 

 black mouth, but with the characteristic dart of 

 the species. 



(To be continued.) 



AN INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH SPIDERS. 



By Frank Percy Smith. 



(Continued from page 267.) 



GENUS TAPINOCYBA SIM. 



Anterior eyes in a straight line, close together and 

 almost equidistant. Posterior eyes large, their in- 

 tervals seldom greater than their diameters. Ocular 

 area considerably wider than clypeus. Tarsi of first 

 pair of legs as long as metatarsi. Metatarsi of fourth 

 pair shorter than tibiae. This genus contains several 

 British species, none of which can be called common. 



Tapinocyba pallens Cb. 



A rare species, the type of the genus. 



In this and in many other cases where obscure 

 and closely-allied spiders come under consideration 

 it will, as before mentioned, be found impossible to 

 describe the species with sufficient accuracy to admit 

 of their differentiation. The form of the processes 

 connected with the male palpus and of the vulva of 

 the female are in many cases the only satisfactory 

 characters. Illustrations of these parts will, I feel 

 sure, be more useful to the student than any descrip- 

 tion, however elaborate and detailed. Therefore 

 figures will be prepared and given later of such parts. 

 These, in conjunction with the generic characters, 

 will tend to remove the difficulty of identification. 



Tapinocyba subaequalis Westr. 



Length. Male 1.5 mm. 



A rare species described under genus IValckenaera 

 in "Spiders of Dorset" and figured as W. fortiiita 

 in " Trans. Linn. Soc." for 1870. The caput is not 

 furnished with any projections. The palpal organs 

 are rather complex. 



GENUS CNEPHALOCOTES SIM. 



The spiders in this genus may be distinguished 

 from those of the genus Tapinocyba by the posterior 

 eyes being rather small, their intervals considerably 

 exceeding their diameters, and by the distance 

 between the anterior centrals being less than that 

 between one of them and the adjacent lateral eye. 

 Tibial spines very short. 



Cnephalocotes obscurus Bl. 

 .obscura Bl. ) 



Length. Male 1.75 mm. 



( IValckenaera 



The caput has a distinct prominence. The palpal 

 organs are very complicated, and have connected 

 with their structure several conspicuous spines, one 

 of which, springing from the lower part of the organs, 

 is extremely long and slender. This species is the 

 type of the genus. 



GENUS TROXOCHRUS SIM. 

 In this genus the curve of the anterior row of eyes 



Fig. 1. Savigniafrontata Bl. 



Male and palpus viewed from beneath. 



is directed forwards. The integument 

 is strongly coriaceous. 



if the abdomen 



Troxochrus scabriculus Westr. {Wa 

 aera aggeris Bl. ) 



Length. Male 1.5 mm., female 1.75 mm. 



