THE SPIDERS OF ESSEX 63
Clubiona caerulescens L. K.
This species occurred freely in Pelgate Wood ; apparently an
unusual thing, judging by the records.
A few notes about species recorded in my 1933 list seem to
be necessary.
I do not think the genus Hypomma can be upheld ; our two
species referred to it should be included in Simon's Dismodicus.
Oxyptila flexa Cb. has proved to be identical with Hahn's
O. brevipes and must therefore bear the latter name, which has
many years priority.
Epeira redii Scop., recorded in 1933, calls for further remark.
In our limited area at Elmstead it was better represented in
point of numbers than any other member of the genus. A
spider of open spaces and broad sunshine, a few had neverthe-
less strayed into Pelgate Wood and the first of them was beaten
from a young silver birch. No more unlikely place to find
Epeira umbratica could be imagined; yet a half-grown example
of that child of darkness was what seemed to drop into my
tray. But it was redii, as black as Erebus, except for a fine white
outline of the dorsal "folium." I took three or four more, all
melanic, from the same tree.
Linyphia peltata, like Meta segmentata, is known to have two
forms each year—a spring form and a later more robust form—
differing little except in size. I have in recent years taken, in
Durham as well as in Essex, several small females of very different
appearance. The dorsum of the abdomen is almost wholly
bright brown slashed with white obliquely on each side so as to
divide the brown laterally into narrow lobes tapering downward
to a point and curved backwards in pairs exactly like the wings
of a swift in flight. I have not seen a corresponding male.
Linyphia triangularis also has a notable colour form, but of
normal size. The dull white of the dorsum bears only a double
series of elongate purplish spots, in pairs pretty wide apart and
diverging backwards. The tuning-fork mark on the cephalo-
thorax is represented by a formless smudge.
Oxyptila maculosa sp. nov. Adult male, Pelgate Wood,
Elmstead; female unknown. Total length 2.2 mm., and
therefore the smallest member of the genus found in
Britain.
Carapace uniformly yellowish brown without a trace of any
markings. Its margin rises into a low very narrow rim outlined
within by an extremely fine continuous line of bright yellow.
A ring of the same clear yellow, wide enough to be conspicuous,
surrounds each of the eyes, which are normally disposed.