214 ARGyOPID-T. 



Abdomen convex, with 

 rounded edges. 

 a 8 . Maxillae long, very 

 narrow at base, ex- 

 panded and angular 



at apex Argyroepeira, p. 215. 



b s . Maxillae short and thick. 

 a 9 . Legs long, protarsi 

 and tarsi longer than 

 patellae and tibiae. . . . Nephila, p. 217. 

 b*. Legs shorter, pro- 

 tarsi and tarsi shorter 

 than patellae and tibiae. Araneus, p. 223. 



Genus TETRAGNATHA, Latreille. 



Tetragnatha, Latreille, Nouv. Diet. cfHist. Nat. xxiv, p. 135, 1804 ; 

 Simon, Hist. Nat. Araign. i, p. 723, 1894. 



Mandibles and maxillce long or very long, projecting, the former 

 armed with many teeth, fang long. Legs very long and slender. 

 Abdomen long, subcylindrical, the genital aperture behind the 

 stigmata. No vulva in 5 . 



Type, T. externa, Linn. 



Distribution. Tropical, temperate, and subarctic countries. 



These Spiders spin their webs on plants overhanging water, and 

 when at rest remain with the legs extended forwards and back- 

 wards in a line with the body. 



Many species, very similar in general appearance and habits, 

 are represented in the Indian fauna. The following three wide- 

 ranging forms may be regarded as representative types : — 



«. Ocular quadrangle much narrower in front than 



behind T. gracilis, p. 214. 



b. Ocular quadrangle not narrower in front than 

 behind. 

 a 1 . Fang (in 2) strongly sinuous, armed in its 



basal half with two very strong teeth .... T. geniculata, p. 215. 

 b 1 . Fang (in 2) not strongly sinuous, armed 



with only two small teeth T. mandibulata , 



[p. 215. 



218. Tetragnatha gracilis, Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxviii,pt. 2, p. 244, 

 t. xix, fig. 2, 1869 (Meta) ceylonica, 0. P. Cambr. Jour. Linn. 

 Soc., Zool. x, p. 394, t. xiii, fig. 83, 1870 : latifrons, Thorell, Ann. 

 Mus. Genova, x, p. 434, 1877 (Tetragnatha). 



$ . Carajjace with lateral eyes prominent ; ocular quadrangle 

 much wider behind than in front. Mandibles and fang relatively 

 short ; fang uniformly curved, armed with a small tooth beneath 

 at base. 



<S . Mandibles much longer and armed apically with two long 

 spiniform teeth, one superior and one internal. 



