A HISTORY OF THE SPIDER S OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND BY JOHN BLACKWALL, F.L.S “Gum AIXTEM PXEBAQUE, QUjE hic habentub, ad eidem sensus keeebbi possint, in id maxime incubui, ne ipse PBIMUM DECEPTUS, POSTEEOS NON MITLTIPLICANDO CITEA IN EEEOBEM DUOEBEM NECESSITATEM, SUMMAM SANE plLIGENTIAM ADHIBITI, ITT VEBAS SPECIES DISTINGUENDO, SINflULAS, MINUTISSIMIS LICET, EIDISSIMIS TAMEN OBSEEVATIONIBTTS, QTT^: AD ANIMA1IUM MOEES YITAMQITE SPECTAEENT, EXOBNAEEM.” Listeb, 11/at Animal Anglad lectorem, LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE RAY SOCIETY BY ROBERT HARDWICK E, MDCCCLXI 192, PICCADILLY p mammm ) I PRINTED BY J E AD LARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE PREFACE, Our celebrated countryman Dr Martin Lister, in his admirable ‘ Tractatus de Araneis,’ has given a classification of the species he has so ably described, founded on their external organization and economy, which has formed the basis of every subsequent attempt, deserving of notice, to effect, a systematic arrangement of this interesting order of animals Since the publication of Dr Lister’s treatise in 1678, little attention has been bestowed upon the natural history of spiders in this country, till within the last thirty years; and we are indebted for almost every advance which has been made in it during that long interval of time to the talent and industry of the continental zoologists, particularly those of France, Sweden, and Germany Under these circumstances, it is hoped that the present imperfect endeavour to supply that desideratum in the zoology of Great Britain, a history of our indigenous spiders, adapted to the existing state of arachnological science, will be regarded with due consideration for the numerous and great difficulties by which the undertaking is surrounded Although a large addition has recently been made to the knowledge of our native species of Araneidea, yet the subject is far from being exhausted ; a wide field still remains to be explored by succeeding arachnologists; and if the present work should tend to promote and facilitate the researches of others in this department of zoology, one of the most important purposes which it is intended to subserve will be accomplished In taking the dimensions of spiders, it is desirable that the relative length of their legs should be ascertained with exactness; and this object may be conveniently attained by submerging the specimens to be examined in spirit of wine till life is extinct; then, on removing them to a piece of white cardboard and carefully extending the limbs with a pin, while they are pliable, their extent, from the margin of the cephalo-tliorax to their extremity, may be taken with a pair of compasses, which on being applied to a scale of inches and parts will give their measurement The length of species is determined by measuring them from the anterior part of the cephalothorax to the extremity of the abdomen, not including the falces and spinners PREFACE vx When exceedingly minute spiders are made the subjects of investigation, it is essential that the sexual organs should be closely inspected, as they afford, by their complete development, an infallible criterion that the animals have arrived at maturity; they also present, by their greatly diversified organization, particularly as regards the males, in which sex they are connected with the digital or terminal joint of the palpi, excellent specific characters, the value of which will be duly appreciated when it is l’ecollected that many species so neai’ly resemble each other in size and colour as to be distinguished by differences in structure only The difference in the number of eyes with which spiders are provided, supplying, as it does, well-marked characters not difficult to be ascertained, has been taken as the most convenient and satisfactory basis of their distribution into tribes On this principle the three following tribes have been founded, which include all the species hitherto discovered: Octonoculina; eyes eight Senoculina; eyes six Binoculina ; eyes two The first tribe, Octonoculina, is much the most extensive of the three, comprising numerous genera, which exhibit considerable differences in organization and economy; the second tribe, Senoculina, includes ten or eleven genera, species belongiixg to many of which are found in this kingdom; and the third tribe, Binoculina, contains the single genus Nops, instituted by Mr W S MacLeay for the reception of two remarkable species of extra-European spiders It may be further remarked, that to the families previously established another has been added, namely, the Cinijlonidce; and that several new genera have been introduced, whose characters are defined in their appropriate places In preparing the following pages for publication, the principal authorities consulted were Lister, Latreille, Walckenaer, Sundevall, Hahn, Koch, Wider, Duges, Audouin, Owen, &c., from whose writings much valuable information has been derived ♦ It remains to acknowledge the kind assistance of friends from whom specimens have been received; but as the obligations to each will be expressed as suitable occasions present themselves, it is not requisite to allude to them more particularly in this place DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXV FIG 244 Epeira similis a, ? ; b, d; c and d, palpus of d, in two positions; e, $ , variety ; , showing position when suspended; g, ? , natural size 245 '> calophylla 246 » acalypha 247 » cucurbitina a, ? ; b, $; c, palpus of a, ; d, ? , natural size ? ; b, profile of ? ; c d; d, palpus of d; e, ? , natural size a, d; b, ? ; c, ? , natural size; d and e, palpus of d in two posi¬ tions ; /, cocoon in situ 248 » bella a, $; b, ? ; c, ?, natural size; d, e, and f, palpus of d in three positions a, ? ; b, d; c, sexual organs of ? , in profile; d, palpus of d ■ 249 „ lutea 250 „ ceropegia a, $; b, ? ; c, e, and/, palpus of d in three positions; d, tibia of second pair of legs of d , showing spines 251 ,, adianta positions a, $ ; A d ; c, ? , natural size; d, e, and /, palpus of d in three EPEI RA 2m.E.swruZisJt, 245 E calo-phyllosj S i 2.4-8 E bellcUj $ J 249 E bzte