SPARASSUS. 
101 
breadth of the abdomen, |th; length of a leg of the second pair, ^ths; length of a leg of the 
third pair, ,|ths. 
The abdomen is of an oblong-oviform figure; it is thickly covered with short hairs, and 
the anterior extremity, which is slightly notched, projects a little over the base of the cephalo- 
thorax; it is of a yellowish-white colour, with a dark-brown band extending along the middle 
of the upper part, on each side of w'hich there is a narrower parallel band of the same hue, 
some dark-brown spots are scattered over its surface, the most conspicuous pair being situated 
at about one third of its length from the anus; and a large, dark-brown band, broadest at its 
anterior extremity and tapering to the spinners, extends along the middle of the under part; 
the sexual organs are of a red-brown colour, and the branchial opercula have a pale-yellow 
hue. The cephalo-thorax is somewhat oval, compressed before, truncated in front, convex, 
and thinly covered with hairs; it is of a yellowish-white colour, with a dark-brown band 
extending along each lateral margin, and another of the same tint in the medial line, which 
is broadest at its anterior part, where it comprises a narrow, longitudinal, yellowish-white 
streak. The eyes are small, and are disposed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax in 
two curved, transverse rows ; the posterior row is much the longer of the two, which together 
form a narrow crescent. The falces are conical, vertical, and armed with one or two small 
teeth on the inner surface; the maxilke are inclined towards the lip, which is short, and 
somewhat oval; the sternum is heart-shaped; the legs are moderately long, and are provided 
with hairs and sessile spines; the second pair is the longest, then the fourth, and the third, 
pair is the shortest; the palpi are short, with a curved, slightly pectinated claw at their 
extremity. These parts, which are of a yellowish-white hue, are spotted with small, dark- 
brown spots, those on the sternum being the most numerous. Each tarsus is terminated by 
two curved, pectinated claws, and below them there is a small scopula. 
The male bears a strong resemblance to the female, but may readily be distinguished 
from her, when adult, by the palpal organs. 
Specimens of Philodromus oblongus have been taken in the north of Lancashire and in 
Cheshire. 
Genus SPARASSUS ( Walckenaer ). 
Byes disposed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax in two transverse rows, the 
posterior of which is the longer. 
Maxilla; straight and rounded at the extremity. 
Lip short, semicircular, or somewhat oval. 
Legs long, robust, varying in their relative length in different species. 
