182 Mr. J. Blackwall on the Structure, Functions, (Economy ^ 



XVII. — A Catalogue of British Spiders, including remarks on 

 their Structure, Functions, (Economy, and Systematic Arrange- 

 ment. By John Blackwall, F.L.S. 



[Continued from vol. ix. p. 471.] 



186. Epeira signata. 



Epeira signata, Blackw. Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist. Second Series, 

 vol. vi. p. 341. 



This distinctly marked spider was taken at Broadstairs in Kent 

 in the month of September, and occupies a place in Mr. Walker's 

 cabinet. It is an immature male which had to undergo its final 

 change of integument, as indicated by the tumid state of the 

 digital joints of the palpi. 



187. Epeira umbratica. 



Epeira umbratica, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. ii. p. Q& -^ 

 Sund. Vet. Acad. Handl. 1832, p. 238; Hahn, Die Arachn. 

 B. ii. p. 24. tab. 46. fig. 112 ; Koch, Uebers. des Arachn. Syst. 

 erstes Heft, p. 2 ; Blackw. Linn. Trans, vol. xix. p. 127 ; Koch, 

 Die Arachn. B. xi. p. 128. tab. 389. fig. 930, 931. 



umbraticola, Latr. Gen. Crust, et Insect, torn. i. p. 105. 



Titulus 9, Lister, Hist. Animal. Angl. De Aran. p. 44. tab. 1. fig. 9. 



Epeira umbratica is much more abundant in various parts of 

 England and Wales than it is generally supposed to be, its ap- 

 parent scarcity being attributable to its nocturnal habits and the 

 care with which it conceals itself during the day. 



In June the female constructs, under the exfoliating bark of 

 trees and in crevices in old rails, a subglobose cocoon of white 

 silk of a slightish texture, measuring f ths of an inch in dia- 

 meter, in which she deposits about 160 spherical eggs of a yel- 

 lowish brown colour, agglutinated together in a lenticular mass. 

 On the exterior surface of the cocoon small pieces of bark, wood, 

 and other extraneous materials are distributed, which serve to 

 assimilate it to surrounding objects. 



This spider spins a large net, having wide intervals between 

 the radii and the circumvolutions of the elastic spiral line, and 

 preys chiefiiy on moths. 



188. Epeira solers. 



Epeira solers, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. ii. p. 41. 



agalena, Hahn, Die Arachn. B. ii. p. 29. tab. 47. fig. 115; 



Blackw. Linn. Trans, vol. xix. p. 126. 

 Atea sclopetaria, Koch, Die Arachn. B. xi. p. 134. tab. 390. fig. 934, 

 935 ; Uebers. des Arachn. Syst. erstes Heft, p. 4. 



