396 



ARACHNIDA — ARANEAE 



twenty species of minute spiders from sub-tropical regions. They 

 are eight-eyed, with short smooth legs, terminated by two claws 

 not dentated. The spinnerets are especially characteristic. 



Prodidomus {Miltia) includes fifteen species from the Medi- 

 terranean region, Africa, and America. Zirnris is an Asiatic genus. 

 The single species of Eleleis ( E. crinita) is from the Cape. 



Fam. 14. Drassidae. — Elongate spiders with low ceplialo- 

 thorax. Legs ustudly rather long, strong, and tapering, terminated 



hy two pectinate claivs, 

 armed with spiines, and 

 scopidate. The hody is 

 smooth or short-haired 

 and freqiiently unicolor- 

 ous and somire-coloured, 

 seldom ornate. The eyes, 

 normally eight, are in 

 tivo transverse rows. The 

 mouth parts {labium and 

 maxillae') are long. Spin- 

 nerets as a rule terminal, 

 and visible from ahove. 



This important family 

 includes a large number 

 of species from all parts 

 of the world, fifty -six 

 being natives of the 

 British Isles. There are 

 fam.iliar examples in the 

 brown or mouse-coloured 

 spiders which scurry 

 away when stones are 

 raised, or when loose 

 bark is pulled off a tree. 

 The family may be 

 divided into seven sub- 

 families, of which four, Deassinae, Clubioninae, Liocraninae, 

 and Micakiinae, are represented in this country. 



(i.) The Drassinae include more than twenty genera, some 

 of which possess numerous species and have a wide distribution. 

 The following may be mentioned : — 



Fig. 205.— Drassid Spiders. 

 2. Cluhiona corticalis. 3 

 Jlicaria pulicaria. 



1. Drassus lapidosus. 



Zura spiniiRaiia. 4. 



