Superfamily Argiopoidea 



B. Epigastric plates not marked by transverse furrows. 

 Lateral condyle of the chelicerae wanting or rudi- 

 mentary. 

 C. Epigastric furrow between the spiracles procurved. 

 p. 405. Tetragnathin^ 



CC. Epigastric furrow nearly straight, p. 415. 



Meting 

 BB. Epigastric plates marked by transverse furrows. Lateral 

 condyle of the chelicerae distinct. 

 C. Spinnerets not tubulated (See CC below). 



D. Labium longer than broad, p. 426. Nephilin/E 

 DD. Labium broader than long. 



E. Posterior row of eyes strongly procurved; legs 

 relatively longer; metatarsi and tarsi together 

 longer than the patellae and tibiae, p. 433. 



ArGIOPIN/€ 



EE. Posterior row of eyes barely, if at all, procurved; 

 legs relatively shorter; metatarsi and tarsi to- 

 gether rarely longer than the patellae and tibiae, 

 p. 443. Aranein^e 



CC. Spinnerets elevated on a very large projection and 

 occupying a circular space limited by a thick flange 

 in the form of a tube or ring. p. 512. 



Gasteracanthinve 



Subfamily THERIDIOSOMATIN^ (The-rid-i-o- 



som-a-ti'nae) 



The Ray-spider Family 



The best-known representative of this subfamily in our 

 fauna can be most easily recognized by the form of its web, 

 which is described below. These are small spiders in which the 

 eyes are dissimilar in colour; the lateral condyle of the chelicerae 

 is wanting; the tarsi of the fourth pair of legs are clothed beneath 

 with numerous serrated bristles, but not with a single series of 

 stout serrated spines as in the Theridiidae. The middle spin- 

 nerets are situated between the hind pair, the four forming a 

 straight transverse line; the fore spinnerets are longer than the 

 hind ones; the colulus is distinct. 



Only one genus occurs in America north of .Mexico. 



401 



