423 



genus, yet the much greater length and slendernesa of the legs 

 distinguish it readily. 



The whole spider is of an almost jet black hue, the femora of 

 the first pair of legs have on their outer sides a large, elongate, 

 reddish yellow-brown marking in both sexes, and all the tarsi 

 are red-brown. 



The palpi are tolerably long. The radial apophysis is long, 

 nearly straight, somewhat tapering, divergent from the 

 digital joint, and has its extremity somewhat pinched into a 

 sort of obtuse point. The digital joint is large, oval, and the 

 palpal organs are very convexly prominent, but exhibit no very 

 noticeable points or projecting processes. 



The female resembles the male in colours, but her legs are 

 not so long. The genital aperture, like that of most other 

 spiders, has its own specially characteristic form and structure. 



Adults of both sexes were found on Bloxworth Heath, among 

 moss and heather, as well as under old turves, from the 

 beginning to the middle of September, 1878. It is a remarkably 

 active spider, and, unless captured by means of an empty glass 

 tube, it is not easy to get undamaged specimens. It is found in 

 Germany and France, but not in any abundance. 



GENUS DEASSUS, Walck. 



DRASSUS INFUSCATUS. 



Drasstjs iotusoatus, Westr., Aran. Suec. p. 347, and Cambr., 

 Ann. and Mag. N.H., 1379, Ser. 5., vol. 

 IT., p. 209. 

 Length of the adult female 3$ lines. 



This spider is nearly allied to Drassus criminalis, Cambr. (antea 

 p. 20). It is, however, rather larger, and though resembling that 

 species in its general form, structure, and colours, it may be at 

 once distinguished by the large size and high development of the 

 genital aperture. This portion of structure discloses a large 

 oblong-oval deep cavity, bordered on each side by a very broad, 



