154 
Psyche 
Dune 
The epigynum of holotypes or rare species should not be removed 
from the body of the specimen. In many small spiders, especially if 
the epigynum is weakly sclerotized, the whole spider can be dropped 
into clove oil, after first blotting to remove excess alcohol. This 
procedure is satisfactory for routine examination of Clubiona , Dipoena 
and other small spiders having little pigment. After a few minutes’ 
clearing, the ducts can be seen ; longer clearing makes them too trans- 
parent. In these two genera, specific determination is based on charac- 
teristics of the duct that loops between the seminal receptacle and the 
external plate. In other genera the ducts are behind the seminal re- 
ceptacles. For description of new species, a more careful examination 
is necessary. After removal from clove oil, the spiders are again 
blotted and returned to alcohol for storage.** 
The procedure used for more careful examination is to make two 
cuts around the genital area (Fig. 2). The tools used are mounted, 
sharpened insect pins (minuten nadeln). The epigynal plate with 
seminal receptacles is folded back (Fig. 3) before or during submer- 
sion in clove oil. The specimen is then anchored on fibrous paper 
tissue for examination (Fig. 4). After examination the genitalia are 
bent back, like closing a door. In poorly preserved specimens! the 
structure sometimes breaks off. In that case it should be stored in a 
microvial. On very small spiders it is advantageous at times to sepa- 
rate cephalothorax and abdomen, but the epigynum and neighboring 
integument should remain attached to the pedicel (Fig. 5). Some- 
times a temporary slide can be made of the whole cephalothorax with 
genitalia. 
If there are numerous specimens and difficulties in their study, it 
is best to make a temporary microscope slide of the epigynum with 
its accompanying structures. The epigynum is first cleared in clove 
oil and then, with a medicine dropper, it is transferred in a drop of 
clove oil to a microscope slide and covered with a coverglass. This 
preparation can be examined under a compound or phase microscope 
and the parts later returned to alcohol to be stored in a microvial. 
But there may be difficulties in this procedure. In Helvibis (Levi, 
1964) it was possible to follow the course of the tortuous (but diag- 
nostic) epigynum ducts in only two species: one because the ducts 
were short and simple, the other because I could destroy one of the 
numerous specimens available and tease the ducts apart with needles. 
**Prof. M. E. Galiano informed me that examination under oil may damage 
iridescence or structural colors. 
