Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/300

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A HISTORY OF CORNWALL 3 1 . Phihdnmus caispiticons, Walckenaer. Liskeard. This species is possibly only a variety of the last- named, and frequents similar situations. Known also as P. cespiticolens, Blackwall. 32. Tibellus obhngus, Walckenaer. Falmouth. A long, very narrow, dull white or straw-coloured spider, often common amongst dry grass in many different localities. It attains, however, its largest size amongst the sedge grass and rushes in swamps and bogs. The elongate form assists in their con- cealment from foes as the spiders lie close to the pale rush stems and slender dry blades. Known also as Phikdromus or Thanatus obhngus. 33. Xysticus criitatut, Clerck. Liskeard ; Polperro. This is by far the commonest of the ' crab-spiders,' and is found abundantly on foliage or crouching on bare places in fields and commons. Known also under Thomisus. 34. Xysticus erraticus, Blackwall. Falmouth. A larger species than the last, having, instead of a narrow wedge-shaped dark central bar on the carapace, a broad spade-shaped dull red band margined with white. Known also as Thomisus erraticus. 35. Oxyptila blackwaJRi, Simon. Polperro. Known also as Thomisus claveatus, Blackwall. 36. Oxyptila sanctuaria, O. P.-Cambridge. Penzance (O. P.-C.) ; Whitsand Bay (G. C. B.). A very rare little species. SALTICIDAE The spiders of this family may be recognized in a general way by their mode of progression, consisting of a series of leaps, often many times their own length. More particularly they may be known by the square shape of the cephalic region and the fact that the eyes are arranged in three rows of 4, 2, 2 ; the centrals of the anterior row being much the largest and usually iridescent. Those of the second row are the smallest, while the posterior pair is placed well back and helps to give the quadrate character to the carapace. Otherwise these spiders are simply specialized Clubionids with two tarsal claws and other minor characters possessed in common with members of this latter family. They can be beaten from foliage or found amongst herbage and under stones. The commonest, Salticui scenicus, will be known to all observers, running and leaping on the walls of houses in the bright sunshine. 37. Salticus scenicus, Clerck. Downderry (G. C. B.) ; Mawnan. A black species with white lateral stripes. Known also as Epiblemum sccnicum. 38. Euophrys erraticus, Walckenaer. Liskeard ; Falmouth. Not rare on stone walls under the coping stones in the summer. 39. Euopkrys frontaRs, Walckenaer. Downderry Cliffs (G. C. B.). Known also as Salticus frontaRs. 40. Euophrys petrensis, C. L. Koch. Treganthe (G. C. B.). A very minute little salticid with brilliant red hairs over the eyes. Known also as Salticus coccociliatui, O. P.-Cambridge. 41. Attus pubescens, Fabricius. Gerrans Bay. Known also as Salticus sparsus, Blackwall. 42. HeRophanus cupreus, Walckenaer. Treganthe (G. C. B.) ; Polperro. Known also as Salticus cupreus. 43. Heliophanus flavipes, C. L. Koch. Mawnan ; Polperro. 44. Ergane falcata, Clerck. Mawnan. Not uncommon on bushes in the summer months. Known also as Hasarius falcatus and Salticui coronatus, Walckenaer. PISAURIDAE Spiders with eight eyes in three rows of 4, 2, 2 ; the small anterior eyes being sometimes in a straight line, sometimes recurved, and sometimes procurved. Those of the other two rows are situated in the form of a rectangle of different proportions, and are much larger than the eyes of the anterior row. The tarsal claws are three in number. Pisaura runs freely over the herbage, carrying its egg-sac beneath the sternum ; while Dolomedes is a dweller in marshes and swamps. 45. Pisaura mirabilis, Clerck. Mawnan ; Liskeard. Known also as Dolomedes or Ocyale mirabilis. LYCOSIDAE The members of this family are to be found run- ning freely over the ground, and carrying the egg-sac attached to the spinners. Many of the larger species make a short burrow in the soil and there keep guard over the egg-sac. Eyes and tarsal claws as in Pisauridae with slight differences. 248 46. Lycosa ruricola, De Geer. Whitsand Cliffs (G. C. B.) ; Gerrans Bay ; Polperro. Very similar to the next species, but the male has a claw on the palpus and the female a much smaller