8 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Climaciuni dendroides W. and M. Llan- 

 drindod. 



Isotlteciwm myurum Brid. Lovers' Leap and 

 Lane, Llandrindod Wells. 



Plewropus sericeus Dixon. Llandrindod Wells, ft. 



Brachythecium rutabulum B. and S. Llandrindod 

 Wells, ft. B. rlvulare B. and S. E. Ithon, 

 Llandrindod Wells. B. purum Dixon. Llanyre. 



EurJiyncMum praelonyum B. and S. Abbey Cwni 

 Hir. Llandrindod. E. myosuroides Schp. Llan- 

 drindod Wells. E. striatum B. and S. Llandrindod. 

 E. I'usciformc Milde. Lovers' Leap. ft. B. Ithon, 

 Disserth, Abbey Cwm Hir. 



Plagiothecium borrerianum Spr. Llandrindod 

 Wells. P. deuticulatitm B. and S. Llandrindod 

 Wells. ft. P. imdulatum'B. andS. LlandrindodWells. 



Amblystegium irrigiium B. and S. Llandrindod 

 Wells. 



Hypnum ciipressiforme L. Llandrindod Wells. 

 Abbey Cwm Hir. var. filiforme Brid. Orchard, 

 Llandrindod Wells, var. ericetorvmB. and S.,near 

 Llanyi-e. H. cuspidatvm L. Llandrindod Wells 

 and near Old Church. H. sclireberi Willd. 

 Llanyre. 



Hylocomium splendens B. and S. Shaky Bridge, 

 Cefn. H. brevirostre B. and S. Llandrindod Wells. 

 H. squarrosum B. and S. Llandrindod Wells. 

 H. triquetrum B. and S. Llandrindod Wells. 



I found also two Hepatics — viz. Chiloscyphus 

 ■polyanthos L. and Biplopliyllum albicans L. Both 

 at Llandrindod Wells. 



Stirehley Rectory. SMfnal, Salop. 



AN INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH SPIDERS. 



By Frank Percy Smith. 



(Continued from Vol. VII., page 360.) 



GENUS THYREOSTHENIUS SIM. 



Eyes very small, the intervals between the posteriors 

 exceeding three times their diameter. 



Thyreosthenius biovatus Cb. 



This most curious species may be at once dis- 

 tinguished by the form of the caput, and also by the 

 smallness of the eyes. It should be looked for in the 

 nests of red ants [Formica rufa). Although it has 

 only recently been added to the British list, there is 

 every possibility of its being found in many places, if 

 systematic search be made. The localities at present 

 recorded are Hastings, Sussex, and Oxshott, Surrey. 



In the ten following genera the posterior eyes form 

 a straight or slightly curved line, this characteristic 

 separating them from many of the preceding. 



GENUS DISMODICUS SIM. 



Anterior row of eyes straight. Posterior row, 

 viewed from above, slightly recurved, having the 

 convexity of the curve directed forward. The four 

 central eyes form a quadrilateral much longer than 

 wide. Tarsi shorter than metatarsi. 



Dismodicus bifrons Bl. ( Walckenaera bifrons 

 in " Spiders of Dorset.") 



Length. Male 2 mm., female 2.25 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax brown. Legs reddish-yellow. Ab- 

 domen almost black. 



The caput is considerably raised, the elevation 

 having at its summit a distinct longitudinal cleft. 

 This species is rare. 



GENUS TYPHOCHRESTUS SIM. 



Central eyes of the anterior row very close together. 

 Laterals of posterior row removed from centrals by 



more than twice their diameter. Tarsi as long as 

 metatarsi. 



Typhocrestus dorsuosus Cb. (T. dorsuosus 

 x T. digitatus Cb. ) 

 Length. Male 1.5 mm., female 1.75 mm. 



GENUS DICYPHUS MENGE. 



Anterior row of eyes slightly; procurved, having its 

 convexity directed backwards. Four central eyes 

 forming a quadrilateral whose length and breadth are 

 practically equal. Tarsi shorter than the metatarsi. 

 Tibial spines very small, shorter than the diameter of 

 the joint. 



Dicyplms corrmtus Bl. [Neriene cortwta in 

 " Spiders of Dorset.") 



Length. Male 2.25 mm., female 2.75 mm. 



The caput of the male is furnished with two pro- 

 minent longitudinal protuberances directly in front 

 of which the eyes are placed. These protuberances 

 are only just visible in the female. The colour of the 

 cephalo-thorax is dark brown. A common species. 



Dicyphus bituberculatus Wjd. [Naicne 

 bitubcrculata in " Spiders of Dorset") 



Length. Male 2.5 mm., female 3 mm. 



Very similar to the last species. It is considerably 

 larger, however, and the cephalo-thorax is of a 

 reddish yellow colour. 



This species is commonly found in marshes, and in 

 meadows by the side of rivers, being especially 

 abundant amongst flood refuse. 



GENUS NERIENE PL. 



The spiders included in this genus are very similar 

 in many respects to those of the genus Dicyphus. 



