1888.] 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



197 



Epigyiium of 

 vertebrata. 



very beautiful. Underneath the abdomen, between tlie spinnerets 

 and the epigynum are three broken patches of whitish yellow color, 

 enclosing a dark brown band. 



The epigynum is marked by a hooked process or finger, hollowed 

 like a spoon at the tip. On the anterior side, the stem or base of the 

 finger rises from a white circular cushion that extends beyond the 



body. The end of the process is black, slightly 

 tipped with yellow, and the base is yellowish 

 brown in color. (See Fig. 7.) The sternum is 

 shield-shaped, of a blackish brown color, with 

 a broad yellow lance-head figure in the middle. 

 Slight processes on either side of this band 

 mark the points at which the legs are inserted. 

 The cephalothoi'ax is a yellowish brown color, 

 marked hj bands of brown on either side, and 

 a narrow band along the median line to the 

 summit of the caput. The head is a very little depressed and nar- 

 rows towards the face. The palps and legs are of the same color as 

 the cephalothorax ; the legs somewhat darker, and with dark brown 

 rings at the ends of the joints. Length, 1st j)air, 23'5 mm. ; 2nd 

 pair, 21"25 mm. ; 3rd pair, 14"5 mm. ; 4th pair, 23.5 mm. 



]Male : length of abdomen 7 mm. ; cephalothorax, 4*75 mm. 



The male differs very little in length, and in 

 the general character of the markings from the 

 female. The herring-bone or vertebrate figures 

 along the median line of the abdomen are com- 

 monly more closely united than in the female. 

 The w'aving marks along the side are less bro- 

 ken and of a duller color. The general color 

 of the abdomen is gray, with the central mark- 

 ings of a w^hitish yellow. The abdomen and 

 legs are a yellowish brown color. The cephalo- 

 thorax is broad, the caput narrowing towards 

 the face : the central band of lighter color quite 

 broad. Length of legs, 1st pair 24"5 mm. ; 2nd 

 pair, 21*75 mm.; 3rd pair, 13"5 mm. ; 4th pair, 

 20'5 mm. The tibia of the second pair of legs 

 is slightly curved, and is armed on the lower 

 and inside part with strong rows of thick black spines. 



Fig. 9. 

 male. 



Epeira vertebrata, 

 < 3- 



Male palps of 

 vertebrata. 



