298 



of the male are also much darkor and richer coloured than others. 

 Found, though very raroly, at Bloxworth and Glanvilles 



Wootton ; but moro abundantly among short herbage and 



grasses on the "Weymouth shores of tho Chesil Beach, close to 



Portland, in tho months of June and July. I have also received 



it from Scotland. 



XYSTICUS CRISTATUS. 



Araneub oiustattjs, Clerck., Sv. Spindl. p. 136, pi. vi., tab. 6. 



Tnoiusus oiustattjs, Blachw., Spid. Great Brit, and Irel., p. 68, 

 pi. iv., fig. 38. 

 This spidor is very closely allied to Xysticua viaticus, 0. L. 

 Koch ; it is, however, usually rather smallor. Tho male measures 

 from 2 to 2£ linos, and tho female from 3 to occasionally 4 lines. 

 In colours and markings the resemblance between the 

 two species is exceedingly close; tho for© part, however, 

 of the dentated abdominal band in the male is less 

 spotted, frequently without spots at all. Tho central 

 marking on the cephalo-thorax is wedge-shaped like that 

 of Xysticua viaticus, but is more oven on its edges, and is often 

 plaoed on an oval, whitish patch, which does not extend quite to 

 the extreme point of the central marking, and forms a sort of 

 curved white border to the greator part of it. The bristles on 

 the oephalo-thorax and abdomen aro much shorter, and less strong 

 than those of Xysticua viaticus ; but the most tangible point of 

 distinction, in the male, is in the form of the two posterior, 

 prominent processes of the palpal organs ; the hinder one of 

 these is shorter, broador, of a somewhat concave form, pointed 

 at its slightly bent extremity, and has a short, sharp, erect, 

 thorn-like point on the outer side in front of its base. The 

 anterior process is first strongly bent forwards, and then sharply 

 curved at right angles, with its acute point directed inwards, 

 and just on tho outer side of the last bend is a short, conical, 

 but sharpish, point. 



In other respects the form and structure of the palpal organs 

 are very like those of the last species. 



