52 Mr. J. Blackwall on some undescribed Species of Araneidas. 



diameter, in each of which 6he deposits from ten to thirty 6pherieal eggs 

 of a yellowish white colour. The young continue with the mother till they 

 have attained a considerable size, and are provided by her with prey, as 

 the contents of the tube plainly indicate. I have not succeeded in cap- 

 turing an adult male of this species of Theridion, 



Genus, Neriene, mihi. 

 Neriene nigra. 



Cephalothorax inversely heart-shnped, inclining to oval, convex above, 

 glossy, marked on the sides with slight furrows diverging from the superior 

 part towards the lateral margins, prominent in front, depressed in the 

 posterior region, with an indentation in the medial line. The intermediate 

 eves of the anterior row are very minute and near to each other. Mandi- 

 bles strong, conical, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and slightly 

 inclined towards the pectus, which is heart-shaped. Maxillae enlarged at 

 the extremity, and inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular and pro- 

 minent at the apex. These parts are of a brownish black colour, the man- 

 dibles and maxillae having a faint tinge of red. The legs and palpi are pro- 

 vided with hairs and a few delicate spines, and are of a red-brown colour. 

 Each tarsus has three claws at its extremity; the two superior ones are 

 minutely dentated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base. Abdo- 

 men oval, convex above, projecting over the base of the cephalothorax j 

 it is thinly clad with hair, glossy, and brownish black. Plates of the spira- 

 cles of a brown colour. 



Length, from the anterior part of the cephalothorax to the extremity of 

 the abdomen, -r^th of an inch ; length of the cephalothorax -^ ; breadth 

 ■3V; breadth of the abdomen 7 v ; length of an anterior leg £ ; length of a 

 leg of the third pair -fa. 



The male resembles the female in colour, with the exception of its legs, 

 which are redder. The relative length of the organs of progression is the 

 same in both sexes. The third joint of the palpi is long and clavate ; the 

 fourth is strong, and is elongated before into a narrow, oval process taper- 

 ing to a point, which extends in front of the fifth joint j this latter joint is 

 oval, convex externally, concave within, comprising the sexual organs; 

 they are highly developed, complex with spiny processes, one of which, on 

 the outer side near the extremity, is curved into a circular form, and are 

 of a dark red-brown colour. 



Specimens of this spider were captured in the autumn of 1833, on posts 

 and rails at Oakland, and at Crumpsall Hall. 



Neriene pygmcca. 



Cephalothorax oval, glossy, convex above, with the sides somewhat de- 

 pressed, and a small indentation in the medial line of the posterior region. 

 Mandibles strong, conical, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and 

 slightly inclined towards the pectus, which is heart-shaped. Maxillae en- 

 larged at the extremity, and inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular 

 and prominent at the apex. The cephalothorax, pectus, and lip are brown- 

 black, the mandibles and maxillae being of a dark reddish brown colour. The 

 legs and palpi are provided with hairs and fine spines, and their colour is 

 bright rufous. Each tarsus has three claws at its extremity ; the two su- 

 perior ones are minutely dentated, and the inferior one is inflected at its 

 base. Abdomen oval, projecting a little over the base of the cephalotho- 

 rax ; it is sparingly clad with hair, glossy, and brownish black. Plates of 

 the spiracles brown. 



length, from the anterior part of the cephalothorax to the extremity of 



