50 THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST.
Fig. s. Clubiona compta. Male. Tibia, viewed from above.
,, t. Clubiona brevipes ,, ,, ,,
„ u, Clubiona reclusa ,, „ ,,
Plate V.—Epigynal Armature of Female Spiders.
a. Drassus lapidosus j. Clubiona terrestris
b. Drassus blaciwallii k. Clubiona neglecta.
c. Drassus troglodytes l. Clubiona pallidula
d. Drassus minusculus m. Clubiona holosericea
c. Prosthesima subterranea n. Clubiona compta
f. Clubiona subtilis o. Clubiona reclusa
g. Clubiona trivialis p. Chiracanthium carnifex
h. Clubiona diversa
ORDER ARANEAE.
SUB-ORDER OPISTHOTHELAE (Pocock).
SECTION MYGALOMORPHAE (see vol. xii., page 192.)
Family ATYPIDAE.
Cephalo-thorax usually with a longitudinal impression, but this is almost
obsolete in Atypus. Eyes 8, arranged in three groups of 3. 2. 3. Ocular area
small, broader than long. Clypeus narrow. Falces highly developed, articulated
so as to permit of motion in a vertical plane: basal joint narrower beneath: fang
groove absent, a single row of denticulations is present, and lies on the inner side
of the fang when the latter is at rest. Maxillae usually absent, but well
developed in Atypus. Palpus: Female: pediform. Male: palpal tibia without
apophysis, palpal organs usually very simple, rather more complex in Atypus.
Legs robust: tarsal claws 3. Abdomen rather short: a distinct anal tubercle
is present above the superior spinners. Laminal tracheae four in number, the
posterior pair being well separated from the anterior pair. Spinners normally 6,
the superiors often long and upturned: cribellum absent. Genital aperture of
female without special armature.
The Atypidae are spiders of rather large size and sombre colours, and are found
chiefly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The sexual differences are very con-
siderable. Only one genus of this family is represented in Britain.
Genus ATYPUS Latreille.
Spiders of moderate size which spin partially subterranean
tubes. They seize their prey through the substance of the
exposed portion of the tube, the rent thus caused being after-
wards repaired from the inside. One species of Atypus, A.
affinis, Eichw., is not rare in the south of England, and another
species, A. beckii, Cambr. has been taken on two occasions. Up
to the present the genus has not been found in Epping Forest,
although it is quite possible that it may exist in some of
the sandy parts.