332 



SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



ecognised by the peculiar arrangement of the eyes. 

 Four eyes of large size form the anterior row, and the 

 remaining four eyes, usually of much smaller size, 

 form a quadrangular figure upon the upper part of 

 rhe caput. The tarsal claws are two in number. 



GENUS SALTICUS LATR. 



Caput shorter than thorax. Posterior coxae well 

 separated at base. Length of patella + tibia of 

 third leg less than the same portion of the fourth. 

 Femoral and tibial spines absent. Metatarsi either 

 without spines or with a few at the extremity. 



Saltieus seenieus Clk. {Epible?ii^un scenum/i 

 in •'' Spiders of Dorset."') 



Length. Male 5.5 mm., female 6.5 mm. 



This spider is very common on garden walls, and 

 may be distinguished from most of its allies by the 

 two oblique bands of white hairs upon the abdomen. 

 The radial joint of the male palpus is furnished with 

 a sharp-pointed curved apophysis. 



Saltieus cingulatus Panz. [Epiblemum cingu- 

 latwii in " Spiders of Dorset.") 



Closely resembles .S". seenieus in size and markings. 

 The white abdominal bands, however, are broader, 

 and the radial apophysis is rather obtuse. Not 

 common. 



Saltieus aflB.nitatus Cb. {Epihle/mun affini- 

 fatiiin in " Spiders of Dorset.") 



Length. Male 3 mm. 



Allied to both S. sceiiiais and S. cingulatiis. It 

 is, however, much smaller, and the radial apophysis 

 seems to be intermediate in form between these two 

 species. Extremely rare. 



GENUS HELIOPHANUS KOCH. 



This genus differs from Saltieus by the possession 

 of numerous metatarsal spines. The humeral joint 

 of the male palpus is furnished with a distinct 

 apophysis. The patella of the third leg is shorter 

 than that of the fourth. The anterior row of eyes is 

 straight or nearly so. 



Heliophanus eupreus Walck. [Saltieus 

 cupretts in partem. Bl. ) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 5 mm. 



Abdomen with white markings. Legs with longi- 

 tudinal black markings. Humeral apophysis simple. 

 Not uncommon. 



Heliophanus flavipas Koch. 



Length. Male 3.5 mm., female 4.5 mm. 



Abdomen without white markings. Legs of male 

 striped, of female unicolorous. Plumeral apophysis 

 bifid. Uncommon. 



brown, the tarsi of all and the metatarsi of the first 

 and second pairs being paler. Humeral apophysis 

 bifid. Extremely rare. 



GENUS MARPESSA KOCH. 



This genus differs from Saltieus and Heliophanus 

 by the posterior coxae being almost contiguous. The 

 tibiae of the first pair of legs are very short ; hardly, 

 if any, longer than the patellae. 



Marpessa muscosa Clk. [Saltieus tardi- 

 gradtis Bl. ) 



Length. Male. 11 mm., female 12.5 mm. 



Humeral joint of male palpus with a protuberance 

 towards its extremity. Digital joint very broad. 

 The whole spider presents a peculiar speckled 

 appearance. It is not uncommon, being found in 

 crevices in wooden fences, from which it occasionally 

 emerges in search of prey. 



Marpessa melanognatha Luc. [M. nig?-o- 

 liiiibata Cb. ) 



Length. Male 7 mm., female 8 mm. 



This rare species may be distinguished by its black 

 cephalo-thorax. 



Marpessa pomatia Walck. {Saltieus black- 

 ivallii -f [?] S. promptus in "Spiders G. B. and I.") 



Length. Male 7 mm., female 8 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax yellow, with ocular area and 

 margins black. Extremely rare. 



GENUS DENDRYPH ANTES KOCH. 



This genus is closely allied to Saltieus, but the 

 femora and tibiae are furnished witli spines. 



Dendryphantes hastatus Koch. 

 This spider, our only representative of the genus, 

 is very rare. 



GENUS HYCriA Sim. 



Closely allied to Marpessa, but the tibiae of the 

 first pair of legs are much longer than the patellae. 



Hyctia nivoyi Luc. 



This rare species is very similar in general colour- 

 ing to Marpessa pomatia. It is extremely rare. 



GENUS BALL US. ' 



This genus differs from the preceding by the caput 

 being as long, or almost as long, as the thorax. Legs 

 4, I, 2, 3. 



Ballus deprsssus Walck. [Saltieus obseurus 



Heliophanus expers Cb. 



Length. Male 4. 5 mm. 

 Abdomen with white markings. 



Legs blackish- 



BL) 



Length. Male 3 mm., female 4 mm. 



The only British representative of the genus. It 

 is rather rare. 



( To be eoiieludid. ) 



