;6 



THE COMMON SPIDERS 



strongly defined than in lighter ones. On the thorax, especially 

 in light colored-spiders, there are usually two or three light 

 marks radiating from the dorsal groove. The legs, except the 

 ends of the first and second, are marked with rings at the ends 

 and middle of the joints, indistinct in light spiders and brighter 

 in dark ones. 



The length is two-fifths to half an inch. The legs are long, 

 the fourth pair three-quarters of an inch in length. The second 

 row of eyes is a little wider than the first, and the second eyes 



are large and their diameter apart (fig. 182). 

 On the under side of the abdomen are two 

 dark stripes meeting at the spinnerets so as to 

 form a horseshoe-shaped figure, but in some very 

 dark individuals the whole under side of the 

 abdomen behind the epigynum is dark colored. 

 There is little difference between the sexes. 

 The females carry eggs in June and July. 



Lycosa scutulata. — This is a large and well- 

 marked species, over half an inch in length and 

 with hind legs over an inch long (fig. 183). 

 The legs are yellowish gray without markings. 

 The cephalothorax is dark gray, with a light 

 middle stripe and one on each side extending 

 under the eyes to the front of the head. There is also a 

 narrow light line on the edge of the thorax at the sides. In 

 the middle of the abdomen is a dark stripe, with five or six 

 pairs of light spots, those of the front pair being only partly 

 inclosed by the stripe. At the sides of the middle stripe 

 are narrower light bands, and beyond these fine light and 

 dark oblique lines. On the under side the whole body is 

 light gray. 



In the males the front legs are a little longer and much 

 darker colored than the others. The male palpi are slender, 



Fig. 183. Lycosa 

 scutulata. — Fe- 

 male enlarged 

 twice. 



