i8 94 .] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



149 



colour referred to by Mr. Kendrick, it is not at all singular ; and the 

 allied species {Pristonychus terricola) varies in colour even more than 

 Sphodrus. Respecting the use of the prolonged coxal process, I am 

 unable to enlighten him, but some of the genus Dytiscus, to which he 

 alludes, also are remarkable for this peculiarity. Indeed, in D. circumflexus 

 this feature is more strongly marked than in S. leucophthalmus. — G. A. L. 



ARACHNIDA. 



SPIDERS NEW TO SCIENCE. 



Spiders of the family Lycosidce are now abundant everywhere ; the 

 females, according to their well-known habit, hurrying off with their 

 compressed-spherical egg-sac in tow behind. 



Collectors should secure specimens soon, for the males rapidly die off. 

 They must not imagine, moreover, that all the black, swift-running 

 spiders they may come across are of the same species ; there being no 

 less than eight or nine species now adult, several of them often 

 occurring together, and within a very small area. Pavdosa (Lycosa) 

 amentata, the largest, abundant in meadows, resting on hatchways, 

 brickwork by the waterside, etc., and in many other places; pvativaga; 

 pvoxima (easily recognized by the yellow diamond-shaped mark on the 

 cephalothorax) ; annulata; nigriceps ; pullata ; monticola and palustris, two 

 very closely allied species, with three yellow bands on the cephalo- 

 thorax; and lugubris, which last absolutely swarms in woods, rushing 

 over the dead leaves in the hot sunshine, easily recognized by the broad 

 white band down the cephalothorax. Herbigrada should also be adult in 

 a week or so; it occurs on sandy commons. The Lycosas proper, including 

 Tarentula, are also adult ; pulveridenta ; cuneata and andrenivora ; while 

 the two large species, Trochosa ruricola and tervicola, may also be found 

 beneath stones and logs, usually, but not invariably in damp localities. 



Of this latter genus (also included by some authors in Lycosa) I have 

 the pleasure of recording now for the first time a fine species new to 

 science and also, therefore, to be added to the British list — T. 

 spinipalpis. They will probably be found in most water-meadows, 

 beneath hatches which have been left on the grass, brickbats, logs, 

 boards, etc., and may easily be distinguished from the other two species 

 mentioned above by their smaller size and deep umber-brown hue, 

 while the males may at once be recognized by the cluster of seven or 

 eight stout, stiff, black spines at the apex of the radial point on the 

 under side. A fourth species, robusta, must also be now recorded for 

 the first time as occurring in Britain. A male and six females were 

 taken beneath stones near the sea shore. Many other beautiful species 

 of the same family are now to be obtained, L. leopardas in swampy 

 places, and L. picta on sandy commons. Of the latter there occurs a 



