Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Dendryphantes capitakis (D. cap-i-ta'tus). — In the male the 

 cephalothorax is dark brown with a white stripe on each side under 

 the eyes and extending back over the thorax; on the posterior 

 part of the thorax, these stripes converge but do not meet; there 

 are also white hairs above the anterior eyes. The abdomen is 

 white in front and around the sides; it is dark brown in the middle; 

 the brown area is often notched at the sides and sometimes in- 

 distinctly divided into four pairs of spots as in the female. 



"The females are of two varieties, which run into each other. 

 The light variety has the light parts white or light yellow and the 

 dark parts dark brown covered with white hairs and scales. The 

 cephalothorax is dark brown, thinly covered with scales, so that 

 the dark colour shows between them in places. The abdomen 

 is brighter yellow than the thorax, with four pairs of purplish 

 brown spots, the second pair largest, connected with a paler brown 

 middle marking. The dark variety is generally smaller and covered 

 with longer hairs and scales. The dark spots on the abdomen are 

 larger and more closely connected, so that the markings appear as 

 light spots on a dark ground" (Emerton). The males measure from 

 one sixth to one fifth inch in length; the females are a little larger. 



This is a very common and variable species; it is found on 

 siirubs and small trees over a large part of the United States. 



Genus SASSACUS (Sas'sa-cus) 



The cephalothorax is short and thick; it is flat in both sexes 

 in the first two thirds, the posterior third slopes a little more 

 abruptly in the male. The ocular quadrangle is wider behind 

 than in front, and occupies one half of the length of the cephalo- 

 thorax. The tibia of the first legs is armed with two or three 

 pairs of spines. 



Sassacus papenhoei (S. pap-en-ho'e-i). — The spiders of this 

 species are small, dark, and covered with iridescent scales. The 

 male is a little less, the female a little more than one fifth inch in 

 length. The palpi are brown, and are covered with white hairs. 

 The legs are reddish, with the last two segments white, with 

 black rings at the distal end of each. The abdomen has four 

 punctate spots on the dorsum and is encircled by a wide, snowy 

 white band. 



This species is found in the Southwest and in California. 



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