296 



band. The different form, extent and colouring of this marking 

 is almost always a good specific character. It will be referred to 

 in the following descriptions as the central marking. 



The genus Xysticiu comprises sixteen known British species, 

 of which twolve have already been met with in Dorsetshire. 

 They are found on low plants, underwood, the lower boughs of 

 trees, particularly old oaks, and furze bushes, especially when 

 tho latter are in bloom, also undor stonos, among moss, and at the 

 base of grass stems and other herbage as -well as on the ground. 

 The males of some species may frequently be seen running on 

 roads and pathways in the bright warm weather of spring and 

 summer. 



XYSTICUS VIATICUS. 



Xystious viatiotjs, C. L. Koch. Die Arachn., vol. xii., p. 70, 

 pi. 412, figs. 1003-4. 



Thomisus viatious, Canibr., Trans.-Linn. Soc. xxviii., p. 528. 



Xtstious viatious, Ibid., Ann. and Mag. N.H., s. 4, p. 253. 



The length of tho male is 2 to 2£ linos, and of tho female 3 to 

 3£ lines. 



The cophalo-thorax is furnishod with strongish, prominont 

 bristles, and is thickly marblod on the sides with doep reddish- 

 brown and yellow ; the longitudinal band is of a dull brownish 

 orange-yellow, or yellowish-whito hue, and tho central marking is 

 long and genorally of a rogular wodgo-shape ; its fine point 

 reaches backwards to the thoracic junction ; its colour is also 

 deep reddish-brown, longitudinally striatod, and marbled with 

 yellow. 



The legs are strong and tolerably long — 1.2.4.3. They are of 

 a brownish-yollow colour, tho femora (and in a less degree tho 

 genual and tibial joints also) spotted, marbled, and suffused 

 •with deep rod-brown, most densely on the uppor side ; the two 

 lattor joints have also, on that side, a longitudinal whitish lino. 

 The spines are tolerably long, and strong. 



The palpi are dull yellow-brown, mottled and suffused with 

 reddish-brown. The digital joint has a strong prominence at 



