303 



it might possibly bo a variety of Xydicus sabulosus. The sexes 

 do not differ much, excepting that tho males are usually darker 

 than the fomalos. 



This spider is not rare on sandy and gravelly hoaths at Blox- 

 worth and in the neighbourhood ; it may be seen on the bare 

 spots where turf has been cut, and on which it loves to sun itself 

 on tho bright warm days of spring and early summer ; it is, how- 

 ever, not easily detoctcd, its grey, black, brown, and red-brown 

 colours, making it look oxactly like tho minuto grey, mottled 

 stones with which these bare sx^ots almost always abound ; in 

 fact, after many years experience, I am myself almost unable to 

 detect it until it moves, which it always does, at least to the 

 extent of drawing in its cxtondod legs when it is closely 

 approached ; by this slight movement it can be easily detected. 



Although not rare, I have in the course of more than 

 twenty years found but very few males in the adult state, and, 

 fewer still, of the adult female. It is adult at the end of summer 

 and beginning of autumn ; but immature examples may be found 

 throughout the year. 



XYSTICUS LANIO. 



Xystictjs LANio, C. L. Koch., Die Arachn. xii., p. 77, pi. 414, fig. 

 1009-10. 

 ,, „ Canibr., Trans. Linn. Soc. xxviii., p. 43G. 



Tho longth of tho male is from 2 J to 2 J lines, and of tha 

 female from 3 to 3J lines. 



In its general form this spider resemblos Xysticus cristatus, 

 Clerck, and Xysticus viaticus, C. L. Koch., but it may be at once 

 distinguished by the yellow-rod tono of its colouring, as well 

 as by differences in the shape of tho markings, both of the 

 cephalo-thorax and abdomen. 



The sides of the cephalo-thorax of the male are of a rather 

 bright reddish hue, slightly mottled with yellow ; the longitudinal 

 band is pale yollow ; and tho contral marking behind the eyos is 

 short and, generally, curvi-linoarly pointed at its hinder extremity, 

 beyond which is the usual yollowish-white prolongation, or 



