138 



by various Hymenoptera upon many species of insects. The 

 Mimetus can make a web like that of Theridion, but prefers 

 prowling in the dark, and taking possession of the industrious 

 Epeira's threads and home, or the patient Theridion's web, 

 after murdering the unsuspecting proprietor. 



It combines some of the characters of these two subgenera, 

 but is more closely related to the latter. The extreme length 

 of its cheliceres is quite anomalous. 



1. Mimetus interfector. 

 PL 15, figs. 12, 13. 



Description. Pale yellowish ; cephalothorax with a black 

 band branching towards the eyes ; abdomen with several white 

 spots near the base, varying in shape and size ; three central 

 ones at base, often wanting ; a serrated black line on each side, 

 almost uniting with its fellow at the apex, and several small 

 transverse ones ; beneath pale, with little black marks, as 

 above ; feet very long, with long bristles, varied with rufous' 

 and black ; first and second pairs with the penultimate joint 

 curved. The male differs slightly from the female : his legs 

 being longer, and the penultimate joint of the first and second 

 pairs nearly straight. 



Observations. This singular depredator is not rare, and is 

 usually found in houses. This has enabled me to make many 

 curious observations on its manners. The first specimen I 

 found was a female, which had made two cocoons [33] under 

 a table in my study, near and among the webs of several of 

 the Theridion vulgare. The cocoon differs in shape from that 

 which is made by the last-named spider. It is oblong, and 

 tapers equally at both ends, which are secured by many threads 

 connected with a web like that of Theridion. Like one of this 

 subgenus, the mother was watching the young, which were 

 issuing from the lower cocoon. The second specimen observed 

 was found devouring the eggs of a Theridion vitlgare, most 

 probably after having eaten the mother. The next day it had 



