

SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



observations directed to ascertain the capability 

 of the pollen to germinate, when pollen was pro- 

 cured from plants growing in situations as above 

 indicated. One cause that may contribute towards 

 the conclusion as to the rarity of seed-production 

 is that situations such as hedge-banks, where 

 It. fica/ria is most evident, support a much stronger 

 general vegetation towards the close than at the 

 prime of the flowering period of our plant, which, 

 like other low-growing herbs, suffers the risk of 

 being obscured by its taller neighbours. 



Flowering at a time when few other plants are 

 in bloom ; having few competitors possessing 

 flowers of a similar organisation ; making a great 

 display of colour : affording abundant pollen and 

 honey to its insect-visitors, which are fairly 



numerous in kind and in number, and some, as I 

 have observed, are very assiduous in their atten- 

 tions to the flowers ; possessing a peculiar sensitive- 

 ness of the floral envelopes, which open or close 

 according to variations in the temperature of the 

 atmosphere : if, with all these advantages, the 

 flowers nevertheless extremely rarely set seed, 

 then, indeed, as Mr. I. H. Burkill says. It. fica/ria 

 is an enigma. If more attention is given by 

 observers to the question of seed-production in 

 the lesser celandine, it will be found. I anticipate, 

 that the species is, after all, not such an enigma, 

 and that fruit is more generally produced than is 

 thought. 



35 Dug dale Street, Camber/cell, London. S.E. 

 February 21th, 1901. 



AX INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH SPIDERS. 

 By Frank Percy Smith. 



(Continued from page 334.) 



GENUS LOPHOCAREXUM MENGE. 



The posterior row of eyes is strongly curved, its 

 convexity being directed backwards. The tibial 

 spines are very small, and those of the fourth pair of 

 legs are situated near to the middle of the joint. The 

 abdomen has upon its upper side a scutum, or shield, 

 which is furnished with numerous distinct punctures. 



Lophocarenuni nsmorale Bl. ( Walckenaera 

 nemoralis Bl. ) 



Length. Male 1.5 mm. 



The caput of the male is furnished with a large 

 prominence upon which the posterior central eyes are 

 placed, the remaining eyes being placed in a trans- 

 verse group near the junction of this lobe with the 

 cephalo-thorax. 



Lophocarenum parallelum Bl. ( Walcken- 

 aera pa?-allela Bl. ) 



Length. Male 1.5 mm., female 1.75 mm. 



This species is very similar to the last, but the 

 cephalic lobe of the male is not nearly so prominent, 

 it being low and rounded. As in L. nemorale the 

 posterior central eyes are placed upon the front 

 surface of this lobe. 



Lophocarenum blackwallii Cb. 



The radial joint of the male palpus when viewed 

 from above is seen to consist of two lo"ng unequal 

 branches, almost parallel to each other. 



Lophocarenum mengei Sim. 



The caput is distinctly elevated, forming a some- 

 what rounded lobe. 



Walckenaera turgida Bl. is probably referable to 

 this genus. 



GENUS SAV/GA r I4 Bl 



The small spider upon which this genus is founded 

 was. when first described by Blackwall, stated to 

 possess but six eyes. The two small eyes upon the 

 front part of the cephalic eminence were soon dis- 

 covered, and the spider removed to the genus 

 Walckenaera. It has since been included in the 

 genera Prosoponcus Sim. and Diplocephalus Bertkau ; 

 but as it appears to possess characteristics sufficiently 

 distinct to warrant the formation of a separate genus 

 for its reception, the above name is here adopted. 



Savignia frontata Bl. ( Walckenaera front at a 

 in " Spiders of Dorset."') Fig. 1, page 303. 



Length of male, 2 mm. 



The curious form of the caput, which will also be 

 figured in profile, will at once distinguish this species, 

 which is not rare. 



GENUS ENTELECARA SIM. 



The anterior row of eyes is curved, the convexity 

 being directed backwards. The tibiae of the first 

 pair of legs have each two fine spines, and are longer 

 than the metatarsi, which latter are distinctly longer 

 than the tarsi, in the proportion uf about 4 10 3. 



Enteleeara acuminata Wid. ( Walckenaera 

 altifrons Cb. ) 



Length of male, 1.7 mm. 



The caput is very high, and when viewed from in 

 front has the appearance of a cone surmounted by a 

 sphere. 



Enteleeara navipes Bl. ( Walckenaera implana 

 Cb.) 



Length. Male 1.5 mm., female 1.7 mm. 



