THE EPEIRID/E 



191 



base, and slightly turned outward at the ends and strongly 

 toothed on the inner side about the claw. The maxillae are 

 also long and a little widened at the ends. The dorsal groove 

 is very deep. The legs are long, the front pair twice the length 

 of the body. The full-grown 

 female is half an inch in 

 length, the male a third 

 shorter, but with legs nearly 

 as long. The general color 

 is gray, the lighter parts 

 translucent and yellowish. 

 The cephalothorax has three 

 gray stripes, more distinct in 

 the young, a middle stripe 

 from the eyes to the dorsal 

 groove, and one on each side 

 of the thorax. In the young 

 (fig. 444) the markings of the 

 abdomen are two large dark 

 spots near the front end and 

 several other pairs, becoming 

 smaller toward the hinder 

 end. In adults these mark- 

 ings unite into a middle 

 stripe more like Epeira, with 

 a light middle spot in front 

 and several middle spots and 

 pairs of spots diminishing 

 backward. The legs have gray rings at the ends and middle 

 of the joints. The webs are horizontal or inclined, according 

 to the shape of the rocks on which they are built. They 

 resemble the webs of Tetragnatha, having a small central spiral 

 with a round hole in the middle, across which the spider holds 



Figs. 446, 447. Argyroepeira hortorum, enlarged 

 four times. — 446, under side of female. 447, 

 back of female. 



