This book is dedicated to three persons who have helped make the study of spiders an enjoyable experience—my wife, Peifen, and my children, Meihung and Meikun. I should also record my gratitude to the friends and colleagues who have been sending me spiders in polythene bags, bottles and boxes of all shapes and sizes. Special thanks should go to my arachnologist-friends, particularly Paul Hillyard, John and Frances Murphy, Dr C. Okuma, Dr J. Proszynski and Fred Wanless, for their assistance in literature and indentification.

Joseph Koh