The legs have a pale, reddish-brown tint, and the anterior and posterior pairs are equal in
length, each tarsus is terminated by three claws; the two superior ones are curved and pecti-
pated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base. The palpi resemble the legs in colour.
The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, depressed on the sides, and has a small indentation
m the medial line ,* the falces are powerful, conical, rather divergent at the extremity, armed
with teeth on the inner surface, and inclined towards the sternum, which is broad and heart-
shaped ; the maxillae are strong, enlarged where the palpi are inserted and at the extremity,
and inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular and prominent at the apex. These parts
have a very dark-brown colour. The anterior eyes of the four intermediate ones forming the
trapezoid are the smallest of the eight. The abdomen is oviform, convex above, projecting
over the base of the cephalo-thorax; it is thinly clothed with hairs, glossy, and of a black
hue, that of the branchial opercula being dark-brown.
The sexes are similar in colour, but the male is rather the smaller. The cubital and
radial joints of its palpi are short, the latter being much the stronger; the digital joint is oval,
convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs, which are
moderately developed, complicated in structure, with a short, prominent spine, enveloped in
membrane at their extremity, and are of a dark, reddish-brown colour.
Both sexes of this species were taken on rails at Oakland in April, 1841.
N e r i ë n e f l a v i p e s . PI. XVIII, fig . 178.
Neriëne flavipes, Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. xiii, p. 182.
— — Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. ix,
p. 22.
Length of the male, Ath of an inch, length of the cephalo-thorax, ^th, breadth, ^nd;
breadth of the abdomen, ^nd; length of an anterior leg, jth ; length of a leg of the third
pair, ^th.
The four intermediate eyes form a trapezoid, whose anterior side is rather the shortest;
the two posterior ones are the largest, and the two anterior ones the smallest, of the eight.
The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with a slight indentation in the medial line; the
falces are powerful, conical, divergent at the extremity, armed with a few minute teeth on the
inner surface, and inclined towards the sternum, which is convex and heart-shaped; the
maxillae are strong, enlarged where the palpi are inserted, and inclined towards the lip, which
is semicircular and prominent at the apex; the abdomen is oviform, sparingly clothed with
hairs, convex above, projecting over the base of the cephalo-thorax. These parts have
a black hue. The legs have a dull-yellowish tint, and the anterior and posterior pairs are
equal in length; each tarsus is terminated by three claws; the two superior ones are curved
and pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base. The palpi have a brownishblack
hue; the cubital and radial joints are short, the latter being much the stronger; the
digital joint is somewhat oval, with a bold, conical prominence in front, and a small one at the
base, on the inner side; it is convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the
palpal organs, which are highly developed, complicated in structure, and of a dark, reddish-
brown colour.
In February, 1841, adult males of Neriene fla vip es were captured on rails at Oakland.
N e r i e n e p a r v a . PI. XVIII, fig. 179.
Neriene parva, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 647.
__ I Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. ix, p. 22.
Argus minimus, Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom. iv, p. 512.
Length of the male, ^th of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, ^th, breadth, ^ th ;
breadth of the abdomen, ^ th ; length of an anterior leg, -njth j length of a leg of the third
pair, Tgth.
The cephalo-thorax is slightly compressed before, rounded on the sides, convex, glossy,
with an indentation in the medial line; the falces are conical, armed with teeth on the inner
surface, and a tooth-like process in front, near the extremity; they are? inclined towards the
sternum, which is broad and heart-shaped; the maxillae are strong, and inclined towards the
lip, which is semicircular and prominent at the ap ex ; the legs are provided with hairs, and
the anterior and posterior pairs are equal in length; each tarsus is terminated by three claws;
the two superior ones are curved and pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base.
These parts are of a brown colour, the falces and lip being the darkest. The palpi have a
brown hue, the radial joint being much the darkest; the cubital and radial joints are short;
the latter is produced in front, very prominent, and pointed, with a large process near its base,
on the inner side; the digital joint is oval, convex and hairy externally, concave within,
comprising the palpal organs, which are highly developed, complicated in structure, with a
prominent process at the upper part, on the outer side, one or two small, pointed ones at the
extremity, and are of a red-brown colour. The abdomen is oviform, convex above, projecting
over the base of the cephalo-thorax; it is thinly clothed with hairs, glossy, and of a dark-
brown colour; that of the branchial opercula being pale-yellow.
Specimens of this very minute spider were detected on rails at Oakland in January, 1837;
they were all males, and had the palpal organs perfectly developed.
N e r i ë n e m u n d a . PI. XVIII, fig. 180.
Neriëne munda, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 642.
__ __ Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. ix,
. p. 268.
Argus mundus, Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom. iv, p. 511.