The male is somewhat smaller and darker coloured than the female ; its falces have a
conical process near the extremity, towards the inner side, and its maxillæ are remarkably
convex externally, immediately before the insertion of the palpi. The humeral joint of the
palpi is curved towards the cephalo-thorax j the cubital and radial joints are short, the latter
being gibbous on the under side, near the middle ; the digital joint is oval, convex and
hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs, which are prominent, highly
developed, complex in structure, and of a dark, red-brown colour. The digital joints of the
palpi have their convex sides directed towards each other.
Mr. Thomas Blackwall found this species under stones, at Oakland, in the summer of
1834, and Mr. J. Hardy has since met with it in Berwickshire.
Neriene dubia. PI. XIX, fig. 202.
Neriene dubia, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 652.
— — Blackw., Annals and Mag. of N at. Hist., second series, vol. ix, p. 272.
Argus dubius, Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom. iv, p. 513.
Length of the male, ^th o f 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 o f the third
pair, Jfth.
The four intermediate eyes form a trapezoid whose anterior side is somewhat the
shortest, and those of each lateral pair are seated obliquely on a tubercle and are nearly
contiguous; the anterior eyes of the trapezoid are the smallest and darkest of the eight.
The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with slight furrows on the sides, converging
towards an indentation in the medial line. The falces are conical, vertical, and armed with a
few teeth on the inner surface; the maxillae are convex near the base, enlarged at the
extremity, and inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular and prominent at the apex;
and the sternum is heart-shaped. The legs are moderately long, and provided with hairs and
a few fine spines ; the first pair is rather 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 parts are of a red-brown
colour, the legs being much the palest. The palpi resemble the legs in colour; the cubital
and radial- joints are short, the latter being considerably produced on the outer sid e ; the
digital joint is oval, convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal
organs, which are moderately developed, complicated in structure, with a prominent, slightly
curved, pointed spine near the middle, two slender ones, enveloped in delicate membrane,
at the extremity, and are of a red-brown colour. The abdomen is oviform, sparingly clothed
with hairs, glossy, convex above, projecting over the base of the cephalo-thorax, and of a
brownish-black hue, that o f the branchial opercula being dark-brown.
A male of Neriene dubia was captured on iron rails at Crumpsall Hall, in October, 1836,
and another specimen of the same sex was taken by Mr. F. Walker, at Piercefield, in
Monmouthshire, in the summer of 1853, and was forwarded to Oakland by Mr. R. H. Meade.
This species, which has much resemblance to the Theridia in external structure, is placed
provisionally in the genus Neriene till the female shall be discovered, as the sexes of the
same spider frequently differ in the relative length of the legs and in the form of the maxillae.
Genus— Walckbnaëra, Blackw.
E yes distributed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax, which sometimes in the
females, and usually in the males, is remarkably elevated ; the four intermediate eyes describe
either a trapezoid whose shortest side is before or a small square, and those of each lateral
pair are contiguous, or nearly so.
M axillæ strong, dilated at the base, where the palpi are inserted, and curved or inclined
towards the lip.
L ip semicircular and prominent at the apex.
Legs moderately long and robust; the anterior and posterior pairs, which are the
longest, are equal in length, or nearly so, and the third pair is the shortest.
Walckenaeba acuminata. PI. XX, fig. 203.
Walckenaera acuminata, Blackw., Loud, and Edinb. Phil. Mag., third series, vol. iii,
p. 106.
— . — Blackw., Research, in Zool., p. 315, pi. 2, figs. 3— 6.
— — Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol.
ix, p. 272.
Micryphantes camelinus, Koch, Die Arachn., Band iii, p. 11, tab. 76, figs. 168, 169.
Length of the female, ^ths o f an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, ^th, breadth, ^ th ;
breadth of the abdomen, ^ th ; length of an anterior leg, 3th ; length of a leg of the third
pair, |th.
The cephalo-thorax is oval, very convex, with a minute indentation in the medial line,
and an acute, conical prominence in front; the falces are moderately strong, vertical, convex
in front, and armed with teeth on the inner surface; and the sternum is oblong, heart-
shaped. These parts, with the maxillae and lip, are glossy, and of a dark, brownish-black
colour. The legs are hairy, but destitute of spines; 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 are robust and without claws; the cubital joint is remarkably short, and
the radial and digital joints are somewhat dilated. These organs have a bright-rufous tint.
The abdomen is oviform, convex above, projecting a little over the base of the cephalo