J. H. Emerton — New England Therictidoe. 61 



has the tube extremely long. The males of several species differ 

 greatly from the females. 



Linyphia marginata C. Koch. 



Linyphia scrijjta Hentz, and probably L. marmoraia ITentz. 



Plate XVIII, figure 1. 

 Length of either sex about 4'"'". Cephalothorax of female yellowish 

 brown with a light stripe on the edges each side. The abdomen is 

 egg-shaped, thickest behind and somewhat flattened at both ends. 

 In the middle of the back of the abdomen, Fig. 1, is a dark stripe 

 consisting of several partly separate patches in which are two or 

 three pairs of light spots. Each side of this strij^e the back is yel- 

 lowish vvliite, and whitish and brown stripes extend irregularly down 

 the sides. The under side of the abdomen is dark brown, 

 with two rows of whitish spots along the sides. The sternum is also 

 dark brown. The legs are light yellow with long, dark colored 

 spines. The claws are slender with sharp teeth. They become stiff 

 and brittle in alcohol. The front legs are 9™™ or 10™™ long. The 

 males are about as long as the females, but have the thorax larger 

 and abdomen smaller. The cephalothorax is redder and the lighter 

 margins less distinct. The abdomen is dark brown or gray with the 

 light markings almost covered up, except one spot on each side which 

 is usually distinct. The eyes of the male are smaller than those of 

 the female, but the head has nearly the same shape and height. The 

 mandibles of the male are wider at the tip, with two prominent teeth, 

 one at the inner corner and the other in the middle. Those of the 

 female have three teeth near the inner corner. The male palpi have 

 a slender sickle-shaped tarsal hook. Fig. 1/. The tube of the palpal 

 organ is short and thick and it is accompanied by a thin forked 

 appendage and a softer rough one, all of which i-est against a large, 

 ■ dark brown, twisted process. Figs. Ig, \h. Another process of the 

 palpal organ has an irregular toothed edge where it approaches the 

 spiral process and tapers backward to a point near the base of the 

 tarsus. Fig. \g. The epigynum has a very large opening directed 

 backward, covered by a dark brown skin. The male and female 

 may be seen pairing in the web in June^for hours at a time, the male 

 taking out his palpus and putting it in again every minute or two. 

 The web consists of a large irregular net of threads in which is a 

 smooth and finer sheet, concave below and held by threads running 

 in all directions. The spider stands under the middle of the concave 

 part of the web and catches what falls down from the irregular 



