355 



PI RATA LATITANS. 



Lycosa latitans, Elacho., Spid. Great Brit, and Ireland, p. 33 ( 

 pi. ii, fig. 15. 



The male measures 2 lines in length, and the female 2£ lines. 



This species maybe distinguished from either of the foregoing 

 (and from all other known spiders of this genus) by its small size* 

 and more sombre colouring. 



The cephalo-thorax is dark brown, with a very obscure 

 wedge-shaped marking, defined by a paler marginal line, behind 

 the eyes. 



The legs are long, of a greenish yellow-brown colour, occasion- 

 ally faintly annulated with a deeper hue. 



The palpi are long and similar in colour to the legs ; the radial 

 is longer than the cubital joint ; the digital joint is small, and 

 the palpal organs not very complex. 



The abdomen is of a dark blackish-brown colour ; the normal 

 marking on the fore half of the upper side is of a narrow oblong 

 form, roughly pointed behind, of a yellowish colour, and, 

 ordinarily, not very distinct ; the succeeding angular bars or 

 triangles are tinged with reddish and in general rather obscure, 

 but occasionally well marked. On each side is a longitudinal 

 row of small brilliant white spots, which present a remarkably 

 characteristic contrast to the sombre hue of the surface. The 

 fore part and sides are also striped and mottled with white 

 pubescence. 



The sexes differ chiefly in size, but the legs of the male are 

 the longest and darkest coloured. 



This spider is found in tolerable abundance at Bloxworth, and 

 in the neighbourhood, among grass in damp meadows, and in 

 swamps and marshes among rushes and sedge, as well as among 

 moss in woods. Its egg-cocoon is round and whin, and it is 



