Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Genus META (Me'ta) 



The lateral eyes of each side are near together; the eight eyes 

 are nearly equal in size; the clypeus is but little if at all wider 

 than the diameter of an anterior median eye; the cheliceras are 

 long, stout at the base, and strongly arched forward near the base, 



Fig. 431. META MENARDII, FEMALE 



the endites are longer than wide, narrowed at the base and blunt 

 at the apex. 



Meta is represented in this country by a single well-known 

 species. 



Mela menardii (M. me-nar'di-i). — This is a dark brown spider 

 with translucent and yellowish markings. The female (Fig. 4^1), 

 when full-grown measures one half inch or more in length; the 

 abdomen is longer than wide, and high in front. The cephalo- 

 thorax has median and lateral stripes; the abdomen has an 



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