FAMILY AGELENLDES. 



GENUS ARGYEONETA, Zatr. 



This genua was included among the Drassides by Mr. Black- 

 wall ; but the possession of three instead of two terminal tarsal 

 claws sufficiently separate it from that family. One species only 

 is as yet recorded. 



ARGYRONETA AQUATICA. 



Aranetjs aquatiotts, Clerch. Sv. Spindl. p. 143, pi. vi., tab. 8. 

 Argyeoneta aqtjatioa, Blachw., I.e., p. 137, pi. viii., fig. 87. 



The length of the male varies from 6 to 10 lines. Female 

 smaller. 



Cephalo -thorax, legs, and palpi dark reddish-brown, thickly 

 clothed with long yellowish-brown hairs. Spines only on the 

 two hinder pairs; relative length of legs 1.4.3.2. Abdomen 

 very convex in front, sloping quickly to the spinners ; and of an 

 olive-brown colour, clothed with short yellowish-brown hairs. 

 Falces deep red-brown, long, strong, and rather divergent; digital 

 joint of the male palpus drawn out into a long cylindrical form. 

 Palpal organs, situated beneath the oval base of the digital joint, 

 and simple structure. 



This fine, but plainly-coloured and well-known spider — the 

 only one of the genus yet discovered — cannot be mistaken for any 

 other. Its habitat is chiefly in pools of still water, in ponds 

 and ditches ; beneath the surface of the water it passes most of its 

 existence, and forms its curious dome-shaped silken nest. It is 

 enabled to breathe under water from a supply of air enclosed 

 around it by means of its hairy clothing. This air-bubble 



