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Family SALTICIDiE. 
This family includes spiders conspicuous for the brilliancy, iridescence, variety, and 
disposition of their colours, and also for the singularity of their forms. The falces are 
articulated either vertically or on an inclined plane; three pairs of spinners occur at the 
termination of the abdomen, and two branchial opercula near the anterior part of its inferior 
surface. The legs, which are constructed for running and leaping, vary greatly in their 
relative proportions, and, in numerous instances, are terminated by two tarsal claws, below 
which a small scopula is situated; but the tarsi of some species are supplied with three claws 
and are devoid of scopulae. 
The geographical distribution of the Salticidce is very extensive ; their principal haunts are 
the leaves of trees and shrubs, crevices in rocks and walls, and interstices among stones ; and 
they take their prey by surprise, frequently springing upon it from a distance. Comprised in 
this family are the spiders constituting the genus Salticus; in number they exceed those of 
any other genus in the order Araneidea, and many of them employ their palpi as brushes to 
cleanse the corneous coat of the anterior eyes. 
Genus ERESUS ( Walckenaer ). 
Eyes unequal in size, disposed on the anterior part and sides of the cephalo-thorax; the 
four exterior ones constitute a large quadrilateral figure, which includes a small trapezoid 
described by the four intermediate ones, whose anterior side is the shortest, and with the 
anterior eyes of the quadrilateral figure forms a transverse row in front. 
Maxittce straight, enlarged, and rounded at the extremity. 
Lip triangular and pointed at the apex. 
Leys powerful, moderately long, and not very unequal in length. 
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