and Systematic Arrangement of British Spiders. 445 



and was comprised in a collection of Araneidea obligingly made 

 for me by that gentleman in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 



93. Theridion pallens. 



Theridion pallens, Blackw. Research, in Zool. p. 357. 

 Epeira nubila, Blackw. Lond. aiid Edinb. Phil. Mag. Third Series, 

 vol. x. p. 101. 



Bushes and coarse herbage growing in the vicinity of woods 

 in Lancashire and Denbighshire are frequented by this minute 

 species of Theridion. It pairs in May, and in June the female 

 deposits about 20 spherical eggs of a pale yellowish colour in a 

 small globular cocoon of white silk of a loose texture. 



The female, both when adolescent and adult, has a design of 

 a dark brown colour on the upper part of the abdomen, which 

 almost disappears after she has deposited her eggs. The male 

 differs from her so widely in structure and colour that I was in- 

 duced to describe it in the ' London and Edinburgh Philosophical 

 Magazine ' as an Epeira, under the specific name of nubila. A 

 knowledge of its habits and oeconomy, subsequently acquired, 

 has enabled me to correct this error. 



94. Theridion fuscum. 

 Theridion fuscum, Blackw. Linn. Trans, vol. xviii. p. 626. 



M. Walckenaer appears to regard Theridion fuscum as identical 

 with Argus formivorus (Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. iv. p. 502), 

 from which it differs in size, structure and colour, presenting all 

 the essential characters of a Theridion. 



Females of this species may be found towards the close of the 

 year on rails and under stones in pastures near Llanrwst. 



95. Theridion albens. 



Theridion albens, Blackw. Linn. Trans, vol. xviii. p. 627 ; "Walck. 

 Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. iv. p. 492. 



A female of this minute spider was discovered in July 1837 

 among strawberry plants in my father's garden at Hendre House, 

 near Llanrwst. 



96. Theridion angulatum. 



Theridion angulatum, Blackw. Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag. Third 

 Series, vol. viii. p. 483. 



A single specimen of this remarkable species was detected in 

 a cleft of a rail at Oakland, in April 1835. It was a female, 

 and, like Tetragnatha extensa, frequently extended the first and 

 second pairs of legs forwards, and the fourth pair backwards, in 

 a line with the body. 



