106 



feet, commonly the first and second longest, the third being the 

 shortest. 



Habits. Araneides sedentary, forming a web composed of 

 spiral threads crossed by other threads departing from the cen- 

 tre, often dwelling in a tent constructed above the web. 

 Cocoon of various form. 



Remarks. I endeavored to arrange the numerous species of 

 this sub-genus according to the method of Walckenaer; but 

 the characters of Epeira are not very liable to vary, except by 

 the form of its body. The middle eyes offer some variations, it 

 is true, and the lateral ones are sometimes placed lower than 

 in others ; but I could not avail myself of these characters to 

 establish natural subdivisions. 



The spiders of this sub-genus are known to every observer 

 of nature. Their habits, and particularly their webs, are fa- 

 miliar [468] to every one. Their history enters into the his- 

 tory of man. If it be not a fiction, it was a spider of this 

 section which, by making its web at the entrance of the cave 

 concealing Mahomet, saved the life of the impostor. The 

 description of Ovid is sufficient to show that the ill-fated 

 Arachne was transformed into an Epeira by the Goddess Pal- 

 las, or rather by the observant poet of Sulmo. [Ovid's Meta- 

 morph., VI, p. 141.] 



Tribe I. Ovat^e Inermes. Body without spines, generally 

 large. 



1. Epeira riparia. 



E. fasciata ? R. A., IV, p. 249. 

 PI. 12, fig. 5. 



Description. Black, cephalothorax covered with silvery 

 white hairs, abdomen varied with bright yellow spots and dots. 

 Thighs usually bright rufous at base, except the first pair. Of 

 a large cize, seldom small. 



Observations. This remarkable species usually dwells on the 

 margin of waters, where it makes a web of strong threads, in 



