Superfamily Argiopoidea 



fifths to four fifths inch in length ; and it is very differently coloured. 

 The ground colour is white or light yellow; the abdomen is crossed 

 by many, transverse lines (Fig. 447); and there are several longi- 

 tudinal lines on the caudal half of 

 the abdomen as shown in the figure. 

 The male is about one fifth inch in 

 length; the legs and cephalothorax are 

 yellowish and the abdomen white. 



The young female is silvery white, 



Fig. 450. STABILIMENTUM OF 

 METARGIOPE, NARROW TYPE 



Fig. 451. STABILIMENTUM OF 

 METARGIOPE, LACE-LIKE TYPE 



due to a covering of white hairs; on the caudal half of the abdo- 

 men, the coating of hairs is not continuous but forms three stripes 

 (Fig. 448). The sternum is bright yellow and there are two yel- 

 low bands on the lower side of the abdomen. 



It is an interesting fact that the hairs forming the silvery 

 coat point toward the head; as the spider hangs head down- 

 ward this position fits them for shedding rain. 



The specific name of the species, trifasciata, is appropriate 



440 



