417 



Tho abdomen is deep black on tho uppor side, with a pale, 

 longitudinal, central, narrow band, tbickly clotliod with white 

 hairs, and occasionally emitting, on each side towards its rather 

 tapering hinder part, some short lateral, slightly oblique, lines 

 or points. The sides are clothed with white hairs, and are 

 marked, towards the hinder part, with several oblique lines of 

 short blackish linear spots. The under side is dull yellow-brown. 



The female differs considerably from the male — her general 

 hue being much paler. The central band on the abdomen is 

 indistinct and of a dull colour ; its fore part is indicated by some 

 longitudinal parallel pale spots, and it is studded, on each side 

 of the hinder part, with obtuse, prominent, short, pale lines or 

 spots. The sides are dull yellowish, marked with oblique rows 

 of bold linear blackish spots. The logs and palpi are yellow, 

 slightly tinged with reddish, and distinctly annulated with dark 

 brown. The V mark on the caput in this sex is seldom very 

 distinct, and often scarcely traceable. 



This conspicuous spider, which cannot be mistaken for any 

 other species of the family found in Britain, is of frequent 

 occurrence on Bloxworth Heath, where it is found on dry sandy 

 and gravelly spots in May and June, and occasionally through- 

 out the summer. I have also received it from the heath district 

 near Bournemouth. It is exceedingly active, and its leaps aro of 

 great extent, as well as very rapid in their succession. The 

 female might easily bo mistaken for a distinct species, so great 

 is the difference in its general colours and markings from those 

 of the male. 



