19 



Au adult malo, kindly sent to me by Mr. C. "W. Dale, by 

 whom it was found under a stone, at Durdlodoor near Lulworth, 

 in July 1877, is tho first well-authenticated example met 

 with in Britain. One other example only has boon recorded, 

 and is supposod to have been met with near Hastings. 



DRA.SSUS LAPIDICOLENS. 

 Clubiona lapidicolens, Waloh., Ins. Apt. i., p. 598. 

 Diussus LAPiDicoLENs, Blaokw., Spid., Groat Brit, and Ircl., p. 

 116, pi. vi., fig. 70. 



This is the most abundant, and widely disporsod, as well as the 

 largest species of Drasstts found in Britain ; there is, however, 

 groat diversity in the lengths of a serio of examples. The male 

 varies from 3 to 6J- lines, and the female is usually larger. 



It is generally found under stones, and blocks of wood in waste 

 grounds, heaths, and pastures, and lives in a tubular nest of thin 

 whitish silk. I have found it very frequently under pieces of 

 detached rock at Portland, and also among the debris of old 

 walls and hedges. Its colour is usually a uniform dull-yellowish 

 brown, with a darker elongato marking along the middle of the 

 fore part of the abdomen; but some examples have a strong 

 reddish or coppery hue, which, however, goes off after immersion 

 for some little time in spirit of wine. The falcos are long, stron», 

 and prominent, with a strong sharp tooth on tho inner side of 

 each, by which it may bo easily distinguished from its congeners. 

 Tho digital joint of the male palpus is remarkable for its narrow- 

 ness, being scarcely broader than tho rost of the palpus. 



Full-grown examples aro very bold and fierce, and will bite 

 sharply whew held in tho fingers by the legs— not by one leg, for 

 it will by a muscular jerk quickly relievo itself of one leg and 

 so escape. I have never found any spider able to escape this 

 way when hold by two legs, probably because in this case the 

 spider has not sufficient freedom of motion to get the purchase 

 required for the necessary muscular effort of throwing off a 

 log. Tho jerk with which this is effected is very strong and 

 easily observed ; in fact, ouo may feel tho free logs straining 



