THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST.
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and might very possibly be found in the green-houses of some of
the Forest nurseries.
Genus ATTUS, Walck.
Small spiders, usually of sombre tints, found upon walls and
amongst herbage.
Attus pubescens, Fabr. This small, dark-coloured spider
has occurred upon garden walls at Chingford. It is not rare in
London gardens, and is a most interesting creature, stalking its
prey with great skill and taking advantage of small holes in the
bricks for purposes of concealment.
Four other species are recorded as British, viz., A. mantis,
Thor.; A. saltator, Sim.; A. floricola, Walck.; and A. caricis,
Westr.
Genus PHLEGRA, Simon.
One rare species of this genus, P. fasciata, Hahn., has occurred
in Britain, but not in the Forest.
Genus PHILAEUS, Thorell.
P. chrysops, a beautiful and rare species is recorded as British
but has not yet turned up in the Forest area.
Genus AELUROPS, Thorell.
A. v-insignatus, Clk. This species occurs pretty plentifully
in some of the Eastern counties, but is very local. It has not
been taken within the Forest area.
Genus PELLENES, Simon.
One rare species is recorded as British, P, tripunctatus,
Walck., but it has not been found in Essex.
Genus TOXEUS.
[Salticus, Latr. Cambr. List.]
An extremely rare and most interesting species, T. formicarius,
Walck., which is one of the most perfect of the ant-mimicking
spiders, has been taken in Britain, but we have no Epping Forest
record.
Genus SYNAGELES, Simon.
These spiders also possess a very marked resemblance to ants.
We have one species in Britain, 5. venator, Luc, but apparently
it has not occurred in Essex. Quite recently it was taken in
some numbers at Wicken Fen, but it must be regarded as one of
our rarest spiders.