6o 



THE COMMON SPIDERS 



The males are of two very different colors. One kind (fig. 1 54) 

 resembles the female. The red bands on the abdomen are 

 broken up into rows of spots connected with the middle 



angular markings. The gray 

 and black spots on the legs and 

 cephalothorax are larger, and 

 there are several black marks 

 on the front of the abdomen. 

 The palpi are bright orange 

 yellow, with the tibial hook 

 black and a black spot on the 

 inner side of each joint. The 

 size of the black spots varies 

 in different individuals, and so 

 this passes into the other variety 

 (fig. 153), in which the cephalo- 

 thorax and abdomen are entirely 

 black and the palpi black, except 

 a few orange hairs on the outer 

 side. The black cephalothorax and abdomen are covered with 

 dark greenish shining scales. The legs in this variety are 

 transparent white except the hairs, and on the front of the head 

 are three tufts of long hairs which are wanting in the light- 

 colored males. , ^ ^j^J^.. -=. 



Epiblemum scenicum. — This is the common gray and white 

 spider that lives on houses and fences (fig. 155). It is about 

 quarter of an inch long, the cephalothorax half longer than wide, 

 and the abdomen a little wider and longer. The front of the head 

 around and above the eyes is white. There is a white stripe 

 on each side of the cephalothorax, and in the middle two white 

 spots, one each side of the dorsal groove. On the abdomen 

 there is a white stripe across the anterior end, and two oblique 

 marks on each side. The legs are gray, with white rings not 



Figs. 155, 156. 



Epiblemum sceni- 



*55 cum. — 155, female. 



156, male. Both enlarged six times. 



