1965] 
Levi — Spider Genitalia 
153 
Figures 1-5. Techniques for the Study of Spider Genitalia. Fig. 1. Vial 
containing two smaller vials, all stoppered with cotton. Fig. 2. Abdomen, 
showing place of incision. Fig. 3. Abdomen with genital area bent over. 
Fig. 4. Abdomen positioned for drawing internal genitalia. Fig. 5. Part of 
cephalothorax with pedicel and abdomen integument including genitalia. 
and placed conveniently. I have examined a few such slides of geni- 
talia of holotypes only twenty years old ; they were almost useless. 
Expanding the palpus to examine the position of sclerites is of 
value in phylogenetic studies, but is rarely useful for descriptions in- 
tended to facilitate species recognition. After the alcohol is blotted 
off, the palpus is brought to boiling in 10% NaOH solution. Then 
the palpus is transferred directly to distilled water where the hema- 
todocha rapidly expands. The palpus can then be transferred to 
alcohol for storage. Unfortunately, boiling in NaOH warps, distorts 
and damages sclerites. Full strength lactic acid can be substituted 
for sodium hydroxide. Sclerotized palpi must be boiled longer than 
soft ones. 
