Superfamily Argiopoidea 



In form the paracymbium is more or less crescent-shaped or horse- 

 shoe-shaped (Fig. 379, p. c; and Fig. 386, p. c). 



The most striking difference, however, between these spiders 

 and the Argiopidae is in web-building habits, the type of web 

 known as the orb-web being characteristic of the Argiopidae. 

 while the members of the Linyphiidae, as already stated, build 

 sheet-webs. Several of these are figured in the following 

 pages. 



The family Linyphiidas is represented in North America by 

 two subfamilies, the Erigoninas and the Linyphiinae. Each of 

 these contain many genera and species. It is not easy to distin- 

 guish these subfamilies; the most available characters for sepa- 

 rating them are given below in tabular form. 



TABLE OF SUBFAMILIES OF THE LINYPHIID,£ 



Males 



A. Tibia of pedipalps furnished at its distal end, either above 

 or on its external angle, with an apophysis; the para- 

 cymbium of the tarsus of the pedipalp usually small, 

 P. 370. Erigonin^e 



AA. Tibia of pedipalps dilated at the distal end but without a 

 true apophysis; the paracymbium of the tarsus of the 

 pedipalp well-developed and its border often furnished with 

 a series of spines or granulations, P. 374. Linyphiin^ 



Females 



A. Pedipalps without tarsal claws; epigynum comparatively 

 simple, without a projecting ovipositor. P. 370.Erigonin^ 

 AA. Pedipalps with tarsal claws except in the cave inhabiting 

 genera (Anthyobia, Phanetta, and Troglohyphantes); epigy- 

 num either comparatively simple or with a prominent 

 appendage, the ovipositor. P. 374. Linyphiin/E 



Subfamily ERIGONINiE (E-rig-o-ni'nae) 



The Erigonids (E-rig'o-nids) 



The erigonids are all very small spiders; for this reason, 

 they are seldom observed except by the more careful collector^ 



370 



