ARANEIDEA OF GUERNSEY. 363 



the tunnel. It is abundant on the southern coast of this 

 country. 



Scytodes tlioracica is a species distinctly characteristic of 

 a sub-tropical fauna. It has indeed been taken in England, 

 but under circumstances which would suggest an introduction 

 from foreign parts. Teutana grossa and Asagena phalerata 

 are both rare in England, while Lycosa cinerea is interesting 

 from the fact that it has occurred, as far as Great Britain is 

 concerned, only in the mountainous districts of Wales, North 

 Britain and Scotland. 



Of the very interesting species Salticus formicarius four 

 specimens only have occurred in Great Britain, so that it will 

 always be regarded as one of the greatest prizes with which 

 the arachnologist may hope to reward himself. 



It occurs, however, much more frequently on the continent 

 where it appears to haunt low-lying, swampy localities, run- 

 ning freely on the grass and rush heads. 



Remarkable as it is in its appearance, it is not singular 

 amongst the Araneidce in its resemblance to members of the 

 family of Aculeate-Hymenoptera. Other species of various 

 genera, notably, Micaria and Myrmecium, also exhibit this 

 peculiarity in form. 



The division of a spider's body into two main trunks 

 united by a narrow "pedicle," renders it liable in the first 

 instance, through its resemblance to the body-plan of the 

 Uymenoptera, to further ant-like attenuation of parts and con- 

 strictions of both thorax and abdomen. 



The likeness to some or other species of ant would thus be- 

 come more and more complete and striking through the influence 

 of habit, habitat and natural protective selection, if, indeed, I 

 may any longer, in the face of recent revelations, dare to place 

 my faith in such a Deus ex machina of evolutionary theory. 



Of the whole number of species recorded, with the 

 exception of the doubtful ones marked with the asterisk, there 

 is only one species, Heliophanus cambridgci, Sim., taken in the 

 Channel Islands, which has not also occurred on this side of the 

 Channel. 



The large total placed to the credit of Sark is undoubt- 

 edly due to the zeal displayed by the late Mrs. Collings in 

 collecting material, for she alone, save for a few collected by 

 Mr. Walker, has worked amongst the spiders of this island. 



For those recorded from Guernsey we are indebted to 

 Messrs. F. Walker, Woodward, C. Warburton and W. A. 

 Luff : while those from Jersey and Alderney were taken by 

 Mr. Walker. 



