towards the cephalo-thorax, which has a narrow indentation immediately behind each lateral
pair of eyes; the radial is larger than the cubital joint, and projects a strong, obtuse apophysis
from its extremity, in front, towards the inner side; the digital joint is somewhat oval,
with a large lobe on the outer sid e; it is convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising
the palpal organs, which are highly developed, complicated in structure, with a curved,
prominent process at their base, on the outer side, another, situated underneath, which has its
extremity enlarged and depressed, and two long, contiguous, filiform, black spines, originating
near their base, on the outer side, which pass obliquely downwards, and curving round their
extremity extend considerably beyond the termination of the digital joint; the colour of these
organs is red-brown.
Early in October, 1853, both sexes of Neriene Jierbigrada, in a mature state, were detected
among coarse herbage and moss growing in woods on the northern slope of Gallt y Rhyg.
Like N enene sulcata, this species makes a near approximation to the spiders of the genus
Walckenaera.
Neriene abnormis. PI. XIX, fig. 200.
Neriene abnormis, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 649.
— Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. ix,
p, 272.
Argus abnormis, "Walck.,-Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom. iv, p. 512.
Length of the female, ,th of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, ^th, breadth, ^ th;
breadth of the abdomen, -^th; length of an anterior leg, ,th ; length of a leg of the third
pair, reths.
The eyes are seated on black spots. The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with
slight furrows on the sides converging towards an indentation in the medial line; the falces
are powerful, conical, convex in front, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and inclined
towards the sternum, which is heart-shaped; the maxillae are strong, convex underneath, and
nearly straight; the lip is semicircular and prominent at the apex. These parts are of a
reddish-brown colour, the sternum being rather the darkest, and the falces, maxillae, and lip
the reddest. The legs and palpi are moderately robust, provided with hairs and fine, erect
spines, and have a reddish-brown hue. The first and fourth pairs of legs, which are the
longest, are equal in length, and the third pair is the shortest; 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 abdomen is oviform, thinly clothed with hairs, convex above, projecting
over the base of the cephalo-thorax; it is of a dull-brown colour, obscurely mottled with darker
brown ; a depressed, oval, flesh-coloured process is connected with the anterior margin of the
sexual organs; and the branchial opercula have a yellowish-white hue.
The male is rather smaller than the female, and the relative length of its legs is different,
the first pair being longer than the fourth ; its abdomen also is darker coloured than that of
the female, and its cephalo-thorax, legs, palpi, falces, maxilke, and lip, are o f a red colour,
slightly tinged with brown. The cubital and radial joints of its palpi are short, the latter
being much the stronger, and somewhat produced in front; the digital joint is o f an irregular
oval form, having a large lobe on the outer side; it is convex and hairy externally, concave
within, comprising the palpal organs, which are highly developed, prominent, complicated
in structure, with a curved, pointed process, enveloped in semitransparent membrane, at the
extremity, and a large one at the upper part, consisting of two branches; one, directed
upwards, extends nearly to the articulation o f the radial with the cubital joint, and the other
is directed downwards; both are pointed and curved outwards, an obtuse prominence occurring
near the base of the latter, within the curve; these organs are o f a reddish-brown
colour. The convex sides of the digital joints are directed towards each other.
By the structure of its oral apparatus and by the disposition and relative size of its
eyes this spider makes a near approximation to the Uniphyce. It was taken under stones at
Crumpsall Hall, in October, 1836.
Neriëne rubripes. PL XIX, fig. 201.
Neriene rubripes, Blackw., Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag., third series, vol. viii, p. 485.
— — Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. ix,
p. 272.
Length of the female, ^ths of an inch ; length of the cephalo-thorax, ^th, breadth, ^th ;
breadth of the abdomen, ; length o f an anterior leg, 1th ; length of a leg of the
third pair, ^ths.
The legs are moderately robust, and provided with hairs and a few fine spines ; the
first pair is the longest, then the fourth, and the third pair is the shortest ; 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 organs, with the palpi, have a red tint. The cephalo-
thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with furrows on the sides, converging towards an indentation
in the medial line; the falces are powerful, conical, convex in front, divergent at the
extremity, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and slightly inclined towards the sternum,
which is heart-shaped ; the maxillæ are strong, and inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular
and prominent at the apex. These parts are of a red-brown colour, the falces, lip,
and margins of the sternum being the darkest. The eyes are seated on black spots ; the
four intermediate ones form a trapezoid, whose shortest side is before, those of the anterior
pair being 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 brownish-
black hue ; a large, prominent, curved process, of a red-brown colour, connected with the
anterior margin of the sexual organs, is directed backwards, and the branchial opercula have
a pale-yellow tint. Some individuals have the abdomen o f a yellowish-brown hue, and
the other parts generally lighter coloured.