33o 



SCIENCE- GOSSIP. 



GENUS GNAPHOSA LATR. 



This genus may be distinguished by the curve of 

 the hinder row of eyes, being directed forward. 



Gnaphosa anglica Cambr. (Drassus htcifugns 

 Bl.) 



Length. Hale 6.2 mm., female 6.5 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax dark brown, marked with a darker 

 tint. Legs dark brown. Abdomen glossy black and 

 rather hairy. This species is very rare. 



G-napliosa lugubris C. Koch. 



Length. Male 9 mm., female 11.5 mm. 



This spider is very similar to the last, but is larger. 

 It is extremely rare. 



Gnaphosa lucifuga Bl. 



This species is closely allied to G. lugubris. 



Gnaphosa suspecta Cambr. 



Cephalo-thorax yellowish-brown, with a marginal 

 line of a darker hue. Legs yellow-brown. Abdomen 

 dark brown, covered with pubescence of a paler 

 colour. 



GENUS DRASSUS WALCK. 



The eyes in this genus are arranged in two trans- 

 verse curved rows, the curves being directed away 

 from one another, thus enclosing a somewhat oval 

 space. The spiders included in this genus are chiefly 

 dull in colour, and possess few markings. The species 

 in many cases can only be distinguished with diffi- 

 culty. 



Drassus blaekwallii Thor. (Drassus sericeus 

 Bl.) 



Length. Male S.4 mm., female 9 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax dark reddish-brown. Abdomen 

 exceedingly hairy. This spider is not uncommon, 

 and is apparently always found in houses. Like 

 many of its allies, unless disturbed it only leaves its 

 tubular retreat at night. 



Drassus infuseatus Westr. 



Length. Female 7.7 mm. 



This rare spider can be readily distinguished 

 from its allies by the form of the genital aperture. 



Drassus ferrugineus Bl. 



Length. Female 12.5 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax reddish-brown. Legs similar in 

 colour. Abdomen cream-coloured. This spider is 

 very rare, and has been recorded from Belfast. 

 Drassus troglodytes C. Koch. 

 Length. Male 8 mm., female 8.5 mm. 

 Cephalo-thorax and legs dull brown. Abdomen 

 dark brown and hairy, with some indistinct markings. 

 This spider is rare and local. I have received it 

 from Norwich. 



Drassus braccatus L. Koch. (D. bulbifer 

 Cambr. ) 



Length. Male 4.5 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax bright reddish-brown. Legs yellow, 

 with femora of first and second pairs black. Ab- 

 domen black and hairy, with white markings. This 



rare spider has been recorded from Dorset and 

 Hastings. 



Drassus lapidioolens YValck. 



Length. Male 10.5 mm., female 12 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax and legs yellowish - brown. 

 Abdomen dull greyish-brown with an indistinct 

 marking. This is by far the commonest spider ol 

 the genus, and is found in all parts of the country, 

 under logs and decayed bark. 



Drassus retieulatus BL 



Length. Female 10 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax and legs yellowish-brown. Abdo- 

 men pale olive-brown, reticulated with fine yellowish- 

 white lines. This extremely rare spider has been 

 recorded from Lancaster. 



Drassus eupreus Bl. 



Length. Male 9 mm., female 10 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax and legs reddish-brown. Abdo- 

 men coppery-red with a blackish band on the upper 

 side. 



Drassus silvestris lib 



Length. Male 9 mm., female 10 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax and legs reddish-brown. Abdo- 

 men olive-brown, with a darker marking along its 

 upper side. This rare spider is recorded from 

 Berwick. I have received it recently from Norwich. 



The spider described as D. criminalis Cambr. in 

 ' ' Spiders of Dorset " seems to be an immature form 

 of this species. 



Drassus pubescens Thor. 



Length. Male 7 mm., female 7.5 mm. 



This spider is similar to D. lapidieohns Walck, but 

 is much smaller. 



Drassus minor Cambr. 



Cephalo-thorax yellowish-brown. Legs pale yellow- 

 ish-brown. Abdomen dark brown, with a darker band 

 along the upper side. 



This spider is rare, and has been recorded from 

 Portland. 



Drassus delinquens Cambr. 



Length. Male 4.2 mm., female 5.6 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax yellowish-brown with dark mark- 

 ings. Legs pale yellowish-brown. Abdomen dark 

 yellowish-brown, with a darker marking on the 

 upper side. This rare spider has been found in 

 Dorsetshire. 



(To be continued.') 



A Lady LL. D. — The University of Edinburgh 

 has granted the honorary degree of LL. D. to Miss 

 Eleanor A. Ormerod, the well-known economic 

 entomologist. This is the first instance of the Uni- 

 versity granting the honorary degree to a lady. Miss 

 Ormerod and her late sister, who greatly helped in 

 the work, were the daughters of Mr. George Ormerod, 

 of Sedbury Park, Gloucestershire, and Tyldesley, 

 Lancashire, D. C. L. , F. R.S. Miss Ormerod was at 

 one time examiner in agricultural entomology in the 

 University of Edinburgh. Last year she was awarded 

 a silver medal by the Societe Nationale d'Acclimata- 

 tion de France. We congratulate Miss Ormerod. 



