Soc.,” March, 1878, p. 211, pi. xxiv. fig. 1. “ I t is of a dull whitish
drab-yellow colour, clothed sparingly with coarsisli brown hairs,
and marked 'on the hinder half of the upper side with a series
of four or five strong and well-defined transverse angulated bars or
chevrons of a dull rusty reddish colour, the apex of each one (except
the foremost) running into the one before it.” As Mr. Cambridge
only discovered one specimen in my collections, and that a female
not yet adult, it certainly is a rare species.
Fam. Fysderidm.
Dysdera, Latr.
D . c ro e o ta , C. Koch {D. rubicunda, Bl.). —■ This fleshy, red-
coloured spider is easily distinguished. I t is rather abundant on
the high land, where it appears to spin no web, but a couple are
almost certain to be found under every large-sized stone in the
country gardens and neighbourhood of old buildings. I t is indigenous
to Great Britain.
Segestria, Latr.
S . s e n o c u l a ta , Walck.—Indigenous to Great Britain.
S. pérfida, Walck.—This large black Wall-spider, which Mr.
Cambridge says he has met with in Corfu, and that it has been
taken once or twice in England and is common in Spain, is very
abundant both in the town and on the high land. It spins its
tubular nest between the joints of stones in walls, opening out to
the surface of the wall in a funnel-shaped aperture. I t is
fond of stables, outhouses, cellars, and such like places, but is frequently
caught prowling about the inside of houses after dark, never
seeming to come out of its hole during the day-time. I t fights desperately
with its own species, and thus affords considerable amusement
to thé street-boys, who are very fond of indulging in a spider
fight,” to witness which schoolboys will even risk the penalties of
escaping from church during the time of service.
Fam. Drassida.
Gnaphosa, Latr.
*G. lugubris, Cambr.—This rare native Spider, of which I was
only able to capture one specimen, is described and figured by
Mr. Cambridge, “ Proceed. Zool. Soc.,” March, 1873, p. 212, pi. xxiv.
f. 2, who describes the abdomen to be of a narrow, oblong-oval
form, of a black, colour with a somewhat silky bottle-greenish reflection
in some positions, well clothed with hairs, and having four
indistinct pale dots, forming nearly a square, near the middle of the
upper side.
Clubiona, Latr.
*C. dubia, Cambr.—A small liver-coloured Spider, inhabiting the
high land, often found inside of lily and other flowers, and generally
amongst plants in gardens, where it seems to prey upon some
kind of fly or moth which is partial to such localities. I t generally
comes out of its abode at night, and may then commonly be seen
running across the outside of window panes in pursuit of moths.
I t is described and figured by Mr. Cambridge, “ Proceed. Zool. Soc.,”
Nov. 1869, p. 532, and also March, 1873, p. 213, pi. xxiv. f. 3. I
captured a specimen also in the stem of an old palm-tree in Jamestown,
Cheiracanthium, C. Koch.
*C. mellissii, Cambr.—After much spider hunting in the Island,
I only met with one specimen of this native. Saving occasion to
get up one morning rather earlier than usual, I met him just in the
earliest dawn, proudly walking across my sitting-room floor at The
Hermitage, situated on the high land. He had not long to lament
that moment—evil for him, but otherwise for science—for he was
soon secured in my specimen-bottle. The circumstances under which
I met with this spider, doubtless prove its being of nocturnal
habits, and therefore not likely to be commonly met with, still I am
inclined to believe that it does not now exist to any extent in the
Island. I t is a large yellow spider, very unlike any other found in
St. Helena, and may be easily recognised by the very accurate
figure given of it by Mr. Cambridge in “ Proceed. Zool. Soc.,”
March, 1873, pi. xxiv. f. 4, where it is also described, and said to
be allied to C. italicum, Canestr. e Pav.
*C. planum, Cambr.—Another rare, native Spider, of which I
found only one specimen, which is described and figured, “ Proceed.
Zool. Soc.,” March, 1873, p. 215, pi. xxiv. f. 5 :—■“ The abdomen is of
moderate size and oval form; its colour is a dull luteous yellow,