Superfamily Argiopoidea 



one half as long as the entire body. The abdomen bears, on the 

 dorsal surface, two pairs of tubercles. 



This species was described from Florida. Nothing is known 

 regarding its habits. Simon states that the web of Dolicbognatha 

 is not an orb-web, but a delicate sheet under which the spider hangs 

 like a Linyphia. It is very desirable that the habits of our species 

 be observed; for this is certainly a remarkable variation from the 

 usual habits of the family. 



Subfamily NEPHILIN^ (Neph-i-li'nae) 



The Silk Spiders 



The members of this subfamily are remarkable for the large 

 quantity'and the great strength of their silk, which is being used, 

 to a limited extent, for the production of fabrics. For this reason 

 they are here designated as the silk spiders. 



The Nephilinas are distinguished from the preceding sub- 

 families of the Argiopidas by the presence of transverse furrows on 

 the epigastric plates, and from the following subfamilies of this 

 family by the greater length of the labium, which is longer than 

 broad. The legs are relatively long; the metatarsi and tarsi to- 

 gether are longer than the patellae and tibia? together. The pos- 

 terior row of eyes are straight. 



The subfamily includes only a single genus, Nephila. 



Genus NEPHILA (Neph'i-la) 



The cephalothorax is longer than wide, the eyes are quite 

 small and are nearly equal in size. In the female the eyes are 

 separated into three groups, the lateral eyes being far removed 

 from the median eyes; the lateral eyes of each side are situated 

 on a tubercle. The legs are long. The adult females are of large 

 size. The males are very much smaller than the females; and in 

 this sex the eyes are closer together than in the female. 



About sixty species of this genus are known. They occur 

 in the tropics and in the warmer portions of the subtropical 

 regions; only one or perhaps two of them extend into our fauna. 

 The following is well known. 



Nephila clavipes (N. clav'i-pes).— - The adult female (Fig. 

 437) measures from seven eighths to one and one tenth inches 



426 



