34T 



densely clothed with a yellowish-brown pubescence. The 

 upper part is bounded by a somewhat sinuous or obtusely 

 dcntated, longitudinal, marginal white band on each side, enclos- 

 ing a broad, central band which presents a considerable differ- 

 ence in appearance owing to the variety of colouring in different 

 examples ; it is usually darkish yellow-brown along the sides, 

 deepening to black-brown at some parts, paler along the middle 

 in a somewhat tapering form, and containing the normal mark- 

 ing, which is darker, but generally indistinct ; when visible thig 

 marking is narrow, pointed behind, and followed by some short 

 obscure, dark angular lines. The sides are brownish, and the 

 under part paler, with sometimes three longitudinal parallel 

 whitish stripes. 



The female is generally lighter coloured, and less distinctly 

 marked, but otherwise resembles the male in its colours and 

 markings, also (like that sex) varying considerably in these 

 respects. Most of the markings on the abdomen become more 

 or less obscure or obsolete, and the abdomen itself much shrunken, 

 after the eggs are deposited. 



This is one of our finest spiders, and is abundant in woods 

 and on wild commons and heaths, being also found throughout 

 Great Britain. In June and July the female may be seen carry- 

 ing about her large round egg cocoon beneath her, partly held 

 up in the falces and palpi, and partly secured by some threads 

 from the spinners. The cocoon is finally enclosed, among the 

 herbage, or on low plants and bushes, in asomewhat dome- 

 shaped maze of web, within which the young, when hatched, 

 are safely enclosed until able to separate andsustain themselves. 



GENUS DOLOMEDES, Latr. DOLOMEDES, Blackw. in part. 



In this genus the spiders are of an altogether stouter build 

 than those of Ocyale. The cephalo-thorax is far less constricted on 

 the lateral margins of the caput ; and the eyes are larger, though 

 similar in position. Those of the middle row are much larger 

 than the laterals of the anterior, and about equal to those of the 

 third (or posterior) row. The Maxilla are shorter, and wider at 



