The legs are provided with hairs and long spines, and have a brownish-yellow
hue, with brown streaks, spots, and annuli; the first pair is the longest, then the second,
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 palpi resemble the legs in colour, and have a curved, pectinated claw at their
extremity. The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with an indentation in the medial
lin e ; it is of a dark-brown colour, the margins, a band in the posterior region, which is bifid
before, and a short streak behind each lateral eye of the posterior row, being of a yellow-
brown hue; on the frontal margin, immediately below the eyes, there are two vertical, brown
streaks whose superior extremity is the broadest. The falces are subcylindrical, vertical, and,
with the maxillae, of a brownish-yellow colour; a brown streak, which seems like a continuation
of those on the frontal margin, extending along their entire length. The lip and sternum
are of a dark-brown hue, a longitudinal line in the middle of the latter, which is heart-shaped,
and the apex of the former being of a yellowish-brown colour. The abdomen is oviform,
tapering to the spinners; it is convex above, projecting over the base of the cephalo-thorax,
and of a dark-brown colour; in the medial line of the anterior extremity of the upper part
there is an obscure, oval, yellowish-brown spot, encompassed by a dark-brown line, which is
bounded by a pale-yellow one, and between the oval spot and the spinners there is a series of
small, yellowish-brown spots, that which terminates the series at the coccyx being the palest
and most conspicuous ; on the upper part of each side there are three pale-yellow lines; the
anterior one is longitudinal, and the two succeeding ones are oblique; the branchial opercula
have a brownish-yellow colour, and a line of the same hue extends from each to the spinners.
White and yellowish-white scale-like hairs occur on various parts of this spider.
The male bears a close resemblance to the female, but is somewhat smaller and darker
coloured. The radial joint of the palpi is much larger than the cubital; it has a long process
at its base, on the outer side, which is depressed and rounded at the extremity, with a small,
acute projection at its superior surface, and a large, obtuse apophysis projects from the
extremity of the joint, on the under sid e; the digital joint is pyriform, with a large lobe near
its base, on the inner side, and has a very dark-brown hue; it is convex, and hairy externally,
concave within, comprising the palpal organs, which are highly developed, not very complicated
in structure, prominent at the base, somewhat pointed at the extremity, and of a dark-
brown colour, with pale, reddish-brown intermixed.
Young females of this species were captured by the Rev. 0 . P. Cambridge, at Lyndhurst,
in the New Forest, in September, 1858.
Family SALTICIDÆ.
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 scopulse.
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 Iraneidea, and many of them employ their palpi as brushes to
cleanse the corneous coat of the anterior eyes.
Genus ERESUS ( 'Walckenaer).
Byes 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.
Maxilloe straight, enlarged, and rounded at the extremity.
Lip triangular and pointed at the apex.
Legs powerful, moderately long, and not very unequal in length.