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YI. 



A LIST or THE SPIDEES OF lEELAOT). By GEOEOE H. 



CAEPEXTEPt, B.Sc, Loxd., Assistant :N'aturaHst in the Science 

 and Art iiliiseiim, Dublin. 



[cOiniU^TiCATED BY I)K. E. F. SCHAEFF, OX BEHAIF OF THE COMMITTEE 

 APPOINTED BY IHE EOTAX ZRISH ACADE2IY TO ETYESTIGATE THE FLOE A 

 AXD FAr:S'A OF lEELAXD.] 



[Eead June 27, 1898]. 



Ix Ireland, as in most oth.er countries, the spiders have been greatly 

 neglected by naturalists. This is sui-prising, since their wonderful 

 instincts and habits appeal to the observer, while the details of their 

 structure are of the highest interest to the systematist. Moreover, 

 their distribution may be expected to throw much light on the problems 

 of ancient geography, since they are incapable of crossing any sea- 

 channel of moderate breadth. Accurate lists of the spiders inhabit- 

 ing the various countries of Europe are therefore greatly to be desired ; 

 and it is of special interest to know what species extend their range 

 westward to Ireland. 



Early in the present century, Dr. Templeton, of Belfast, formed a 

 collection of spiders, and compiled in MS. a "History of the Irish 

 Arachnida," which was incorporated in Mr. Blachwall's well-known 

 Monograph of the Spiders of the British Isles, published in 1861-4. 

 Several species were herein described as new, from Irish types. Of 

 these, some which seem clearly to be entitled to specific rank, and 

 others whose identity with previously described Spiders appears beyond 

 doubt, are inserted in their systematic position in the present list. 

 There remain five species, described without clear structural detail, 

 whose synonymy cannot be determined, though their identity with 

 species included in the list is highly probable. No good purpose, there- 

 fore, can be served by inserting these doubtful names, and I merely 

 enumerate them here to show that they have not been overlooked : — 

 Theridion auratum, Neriene pilosa, N. palUdula, N. carinata, LinypJiia 

 nasata. 



