Superfamily Argiopoidea 



or less extent. A very distinctive feature is the presence of a more 

 or less pronounced tubercle at the end of the abdomen above the 

 spinnerets (Fig. 397). 



This species has been separated from Neriene by Mr. Banks, 

 who has proposed the genus Linyphiella for its reception. 



This is a widely distributed species, but it is apparently 

 more common in the South than in the North. I have not seen 

 its web, having taken the spider only by sweeping. 



Neriene variabilis (N. var-i-ab'i-lis). — A striking characteris- 

 tic of this species is the form of the abdomen, which is com- 

 paratively high and ends in a more or less pronounced rounded 



Fig. 398. NERIENE VARIABILIS 



projection, which is situated a considerable distance above the 

 spinnerets (Fig. 398); there is, however, considerable variation 

 in the degree of prominence of this projection. The cephalothorax 

 is yellowish brown; the venter of the abdomen is dark reddish 

 brown; on each side of the abdomen there is a row of small silverv 

 spots, and above this a row of blackish spots; the dorsal aspect 

 of the abdomen is reddish or yellowish with a few small silvery 

 spots; there is a dark spot on the rounded tip of the abdomen, 

 and in front of this a double row of spots which vary greatly in 

 size. The length of the body is about one eighth inch; the speci- 

 mens measured were not quite mature. 



Genus LINYPHIA (Li-nyph'i-a) 



The genus Linyphia includes those sheet-web weavers that 

 are most apt to attract attention; the species, although of moder- 

 ate size, are large compared with the majority of the members of 



385 



