Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Neoscona oaxacensis (N. o-ax-a-cen'sis). — This is a Pacific 

 Coast species whose range extends from California to Panama. 

 The female is one half inch or a little more in length. 1 1 resembles 

 the three preceding species in being exceedingly variable in colour 

 and markings, but usually presents the abdominal markings de- 

 scribed above as characteristic of the genus. It is easily distin- 

 guished from our other species of this genus by the fact that 



the femora of the first three pairs 

 I of legs are armed with a double 

 series of spines beneath. 



The male usually measures a 

 little less than one half inch in 

 length, but varies much in size. 

 The folium resembles quite closely 

 that of the female. It agrees with 

 the following species in having the 

 coxa of the fourth legs armed with 

 a coniform spur beneath. 



F. O. P. Cambridge states that 

 the Epeira vertebrata of McCook is 

 identical with this species; but Mr. 

 Banks in his catalogue separates 

 the two. 



Neoscona pratensis (N. pra- 

 ten'sis). — In this species, which 

 undoubtedly belongs to the genus 

 Neoscona, we find the widest departure from the typical mark- 

 ings of the genus (Fig. 537). The adult spiders measure from 

 one third to two fifths inch in length. The colour of the cara- 

 pace is yellowish brown with darker median and submarginal 

 bands. The colour of the abdomen is yellowish brown, which 

 is lighter on the basal half and darker upon the apical half. 

 There is a broad median brown band; and on each side of this, 

 there is a yellow stripe, which is often more or less broken, 

 especially where it passes over the muscle impressions; and on 

 "ach side, between the yellow band and the margin of the body, 

 there is a row of six black spots partly or completely sur- 

 .ounded with yellow. 



The male is marked like the female and is not much 

 smaller. The tibia of the second legs is curved and armed 



Fig. 537- NEOSCONA PRATENSIS 



502 



