18 F. P. SMITH ON THE SPIDERS OF THE SUB-FAMILY ERIGONINAE. 



tibia of the male palpus is, however, with very few exceptions, 

 devoid of any projection or apophysis, and the caput in that sex 

 is almost invariably normal, resembling that of the female. The 

 metatarsi exhibit a gradual elongation compared with the tibiae, 

 and the whole spider shows a decided tendency to increase in 

 size. Contrasting now the Erigoninae, we find no sign of increase 

 in the number of spines, the single minute example upon each 

 tibia being constant throughout the series. As in the case of 

 the Linyphiinae, the palpal organs become more prominent and 

 complex, but the external branch of the tarsus is never very 

 conspicuous. The genital aperture of the female is almost 

 invariably devoid of a clavus. The tibia of the male palpus is, 

 with hardly an exception, provided with an apophysis, which, in 

 the more specialised form, is often of surprising dimensions, and, 

 the caput in this sex is nearly always more or less modified 

 either by the elevation of a portion of its upper surface, or by 

 the presence of post-ocular depressions. The metatarsi are 

 normal, seldom exhibiting any tendency towards undue elon- 

 gation. 



The species constituting the sub-family Erigoninae may be 

 arranged in three groups, which, although by no means sharply 

 defined, will perhaps be of some assistance to the student. 



The Neriene group contains a number of genera with the 

 sternum at least as broad as long, and the elevation of the male 

 caput, when present, so placed as to have practically no effect 

 upon the position of the eyes. The spiders themselves are about 

 the medium size of the Erigoninae. The genus Stylothorax 

 [Gongy Helium, Simon (in part)], contains some of the least 

 specialised species of this group. In S. fuscus a slight gibbosity 

 appears behind the eyes, which becomes more pronounced in 

 several allied species — S. apicatus, for example, being furnished 

 with a small conical projection, surmounted by a tuft of hairs. 

 In Erigone and Neriene [Gonatium, Simon (in part)], there are no 

 distinct cephalic eminences, but the whole caput is more or 

 L ss raised. Allied to Neriene are the genera Dicyphus and 

 Hypoinma, with large oval protuberances behind the eyes. 



The Diplocephalus group contains a large number of minute 



