341 



spiders of the present genus, in thus departing from the Thomuidet, 

 appear to approach more nearly to the Drassides, far removed 

 though they are from the latter, in our systematic linear 

 arrangement. 



One species only has been found in Great Britain, and is met 

 with, though not commonly, in Dorsetshire. 



MICROMMATA VIRESCENS. 



Aranetjs virescens, Clerck., Sv. Spindl., p. 138, pi. vi., Tab. 3. 



,, rosetjs, Ibid, i.e., p. 137, pi. vi., Tab. 7. 

 Spaeassus smaragdulus, Walck., Blachw., Spid. Great Brit, and 

 Irel., p. 112, pi. v., fig. 61. 



The length of the male is 4 lines, and that of the female 6 to 

 <$. 



The cephalo-thorax of the male is of a greenish-yellow hue 

 clothed with hairs, and the thoracic indentation is long and deep. 

 The legs are groonish-yellow, and sometimes of a bright green. 

 The spines beneath the tibiso and metatarsi are long and tolera- 

 bly strong. 



The palpi aro of moderate length, and similar to the legs in 

 colour. The radial is rather longer than the cubital joint, and 

 has its outer extremity produced into a long, prominent, slightly 

 curved, tapering, pointed, black-brown, apophysis, equalling 

 the joint in length. The digital joint is large, oval, pointed at 

 its extremity, and of a brown colour, equal in length to the 

 radial and cubital joints together. The palpal organs are 

 prominent, rather complex, with a curved, pointed spine at their 

 extremity. 



The abdomen is of a narrow, somewhat cylindrical, oval form ; 

 its upper side is brightish-yollow, with three longitudinal, vivid 

 scarlet bands, of which the central one tapers to a point above 

 the spinners. The sides and under part are of a dull green. 



The female is wholly of a brightish green hue, her abdomen 

 is much larger, and of a more oval shapo than that of the male 

 and is rather paler than the cephalo-thorax, with a tapering, 



