552 DESCRIPTIONS OP SOME NEW ARANEID^, 



P. Cambridge, F.Z.S., when he founded the genus Thlaosoma, for 

 he wrote* : — " From the disposition of its eyes it bears great 

 resemblance to the Epeirides; but the laterally extended legs and 

 their relative length, link it more decidedly to the Thomisides, of 

 which family, however, its maxillse and labium, and other generic 

 characters separate it from all the hitherto characterised genera." 

 Until recently I was myself inclined to regard G. excavata and C. 

 diibia as members of the family Thomisidce; but upon closer study, 

 and after perusing Simon's diagnosis in his magnificent work, 

 " Histoire Naturelle des Araignees,"! am forced to the conclusion 

 that they are undoubtedly members of the Epeiridce, or, taking 

 Simon's system of classification, Argiopidce. 



The facts stated in this paper show, as has been proved by 

 Wagner, that too much confidence must not be placed upon the 

 architecture of these creatures as exhibited by them in confine- 

 ment. Independently of this, however, one great truth has been 

 demonstrated, namely, that any attempt to set up a system of 

 classification upon the basis of a spinning-habit, is at the best 

 chimerical, artificial, and — unscientific. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 



(Plate xvii.) 



Eig. 1 . — Epeira pallida. 



Fig. 2. — Epeira crassipes. 



Fig. 2a,.— „ „ epigyne. 



Fig. 3. — Epeira variabilis. 



Fig. 3a.— „ ,, epigyne. 



Fig. 36. — ,, ,, underside of abdomen. 



Fig. 4. — Epeira sylvicola. 



Fig. 4ft.— ,, „ epigyne. 



Fig. 5. — Argiope extensa. 



Fig. 5a. — „ „ abdomen in profile. 



Fig. 5b.— „ „ epigyne. 



Fig. 5c. — „ „ cocoon. 



* Journ. Linn. Soc. Vol. x. Zoology, p. 274. 



