352 



The sexes do not appear to differ much excepting in size. 



This species is allied to Pirata hygrophilus, Thor., and Pirata 

 piraticun, Clerek. The broad, white, marginal, thoracic bands, 

 howover, besides its larger size, distinguish it easily from both. 



An adult male was kindly sent to me from Merton Hall, 

 Norfolk, by Lord Walsingham some few years ago ; and several 

 adult females were met with in a swamp on Bloxworth Heath 

 on the 15 th August, 1879. 



PIRATA HYGROPHILUS. 



Pirata hygrophilus, Thor., Syn. Eur. Spid., p. 343. 

 Lycosa piscatoria, Placlcw., Spid. Groat Brit, and Irel., p. 36, 

 pi. ii., fig. 17. 



Length of the male from 2£ to rather over 3 lines, and of the 

 female from 3 to 3£ lines. 



Tho cephalo-thorax is yellow-brown, with a broad, olive-brown, 

 longitudinal band on each side, and a narrow marginal one of 

 tho same hue ; immediately behind the eyes is an elongate, 

 wedge-shaped, similarly-coloured marking, whose fine produced 

 point is directed backwards, and the greater part of its length 

 is bisected by a longitudinal yellow-brown line, or stripe, of 

 greater or loss strength. This wedge-shaped marking is com- 

 mon to all the species of the genus ; it varies a little in its form 

 and distinctness, and is a reliable specific character. 



The legs are long, tolerably strong, of a yellow-brown colour, 

 annulated with greenish, . or olive-brown ; the annulations are 

 more distinct in some than in other oxamplos, but perceptiblo in 

 all. 



The eyes of the anterior row are separated by equal intervals. 



The palpi are rather long, and of a greenish yellow-brown 

 hue, the digital joint being tho darkest. The radial joint is a 

 little longer than the cubital, and (like all the true Lycosids) 

 devoid of any apophysis at its extremity. The digital joint is 

 large, equalling in length that of the radial and cubital joints 

 together, and the palpal organs aro complex. 



