323 



The logs also diffor from those of Oxyptila trux, being of a 

 yellow-red hue, slightly marked with red-brown. 



The palpi, oxcopting the digital joint, which is dark brown, 

 are of the same colour as the legs. The radial joint has 

 its extremity, on the outer side, produced into a very 

 remarkable, trifid apophysis; tho portion next to the digital 

 joint is bifid or somewhat crescent-shaped, and is not at 

 first easily soon ; tho outer, or most prominont, portion terminates 

 with a short, black, obtuse, spiny projection ; this projection, when 

 simply lookod at from behind, appears to be small and sharp- 

 pointod, but when carefully notod from other points of view it is 

 seen to be of almost uniform sizo throughout, and obtuso ; under- 

 noath the radial joint is also anothor strong curved apophysis. 

 The palpal organs are moderately complox. 



The femalo varies in its colours liko the male, but is always 

 lighter in hue. On the abdomen is often a palo dentated band, 

 like that of Xysticus, bordored with a dooper colour . Among 

 numerous males, however, I have never seen any, at all distinct, 

 trace of this band, excepting in one instance, whore it was 

 only faintly visible, and of a pale red-brown colour mottled with 

 yellowish, and speckled with whito points, being also bordered 

 with darker red-brown, and containing, along tho middle of the 

 fore part, the normal dark strijje, which is indicated by broken 

 blackish marginal lines only. 



The varied colouring of tho difforont varieties, as well as the 

 difforont appoarance of tho outermost radial apophysis from 

 difforont points of viow, havo caused this spider to bo describod 

 as several distinct spocios under difforont names (vide synonyms 

 given above). That Xysticus hordeola, C. L. Koch., and Thomisut 

 versutus, Black., are identical I feel no doubt, having compared 

 examples of the fornior received from Dr. Koch., with types 

 of the latter named by Mr. Blackwall himself. Dr. Thorell is, 

 however, still of opinion that thore are two species involved 

 (Syn. Europ. Spid., p. 252), viz., Xysticus horticola, C. L. Koch., 

 and Xysticus atomaria, Panzer (Thomisus versutus, Blackw.). 

 This is not a vory rare, though at tho same timo it is by no 



