Superfamily Argiopoidea 



of the epigynum and by the fact that each lateral half of the 

 atriolum is divided by a furrow (Fig. 483 bis). 



The male resembles the female in colour and markings, but 

 is only half as large. 



This species often builds its web very high in trees. 



In case our form proves to be specifically distinct from that 

 found in Europe, it will be known as A. silvatica, the name given 

 to it by Emerton in 1884. 



Aranea nordmanni (A. nord-man'ni). — This is a smaller 

 species than A. angulata; but the two cannot be separated by 

 size; as some individuals of A. nordmanni are as large as the 

 smaller individuals of A. angulata. A. nordmanni rarely exceeds 

 three fifths inch in length. The same variations in colour and 

 markings are found here as in the preceding species; but in A. 

 nordmanni the more common type is that in which the dark line 

 bordering the folium is broken into several pairs of very dark 

 oblique bars (Fig. 484). 



In many individuals, the folium, which covers only the hind 

 half of the abdomen, is solid black, and is bordered by a light 

 yellow line (Fig. 485). This variety is represented by both 

 sexes. 1 have not observed a similar variation in either of 

 the other species. Figure 485 bis represents an intermediate 

 variety. 



The female of this species can be recognized by the form of 

 the epigynum; the scape is not so long as in A. angulata; it is 

 widest at the base and is usually tapered evenly to the tip (Fig. 

 486) ; the lateral halves of the atriolum are not divided. 



This, like the preceding, is an introduced species; it is widely 

 distributed in the Atlantic region; 



Aranea cavatica (A. ca-vat'i-ca). — This spider is dirty white 

 in colour with grayish markings. The abdomen is clothed with 

 numerous whitish or gray hairs, which give it in life a grayish 

 appearance; this is not so marked in alcoholic specimens. The 

 folium is often distinct (Fig. 487); but is usually not so well- 

 marked as in the two preceding species, and is sometimes indis- 

 tinct. On the ventral side of the abdomen there is a broad black 

 band extending from the epigastric furrow to the spinnerets; the 

 basal half of this band is bordered by two curved yellow lines; 

 and near the middle of its length there is a pair of yellow spots 

 (Fig. 488). 



470 



