Urquhart. — On the Protective Resemblances of the Araneidea. 177 



higher forms of life. The numerous Lycosidce are mostly of sombre colours, 

 well adapted to their habits and haunts. Amongst the jumping spiders 

 (Salticides) the colouring ranges from earthy tints to a whitish-yellow. The 

 brighter tints, if seen in captivity, would be pronounced conspicuous ; but 

 in their natural haunts their straw-coloured oblong- oviform figures match 

 so well the dried clumps and leaves of grass, etc., that it taxes the collector's 

 eyesight to follow them as they jump and run through the low vegetation. 

 One small earth-coloured species affects loose earth, where it is not easily 

 observed unless carefully searched for ; another species, living apparently in 

 small communities, inhabits dry banks : it is a light brown. Of one species 

 {Thomisides) that hunts amongst the leaves of low plants, the cephalothorax 

 is brown, the cylindrical abdomen pea-green, resembling a bud. The Dras- 

 sidce that live under decayed debris, water-ditches, etc., have earthy and other 

 dull tints. In giving these examples of dull colouring, I do not mean to 

 assert that they are entirely due to protective influences. There is one 

 point of interest in regard to protective colouring, especially dull tints, that 

 is, the comparative powers between our own vision and that of the spiders' 

 enemies — especially birds — for many of the so-called dull tints of our 

 unaided vision are by no means so under a lens of low power. 



The assimilation of hues between spiders and their environment is often 

 increased by the specific pattern, formed by dashes of colour which match 

 the brighter tints of the vegetation they frequent. It is not unusual to find 

 the tubercles apparently overgrown with minute lichens. The pattern on 

 the abdomen sometimes has the form and colour of a lichen (Parmelia) ; 

 which tends to give the abdomen, when seen in a favourable position, the 

 appearance of a lichen-grown knot. Very good specimens are to be found 

 under tufts of Usnea on old fences or trees. The most wonderful ex- 

 ample of protective resemblance that I have met with, was a light-brown 

 spider, — abdomen 10 mm. long, — the specific pattern, glaucous- white, 8 mm. 

 long, took the perfect form of a lobulate thallus, which was only attached 

 to the abdomen by its base, close to the pedicle. For nine years I have 

 searched in vain for a similar specimen ; no spider was ever met with 

 which had the pattern detached to any extent from the integument. 



It may be of interest to mention that, when black forms distinctive 

 marks on the abdomen, it always has the form of patches, bands, or little 

 irregular lines which pick out the lighter tints, causing the integument 

 often to resemble rugose bark, — it never (?) imitates foliaceous lichens ; 

 such mottling is composed of lichen colours — i.e., the prevailing tints of the 

 foliaceous lichens growing about the haunts of the spider. 



The special adaptation of form and colouring to the particular condi- 

 tions of life, is a matter of great interest ; and the more animal- colouration is 

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