Bo J. H. Emerton — New England TJiericticM. 



Gonatium Menge. 



Gonatium rubens (Meuge.) 



Neriene rubens Blk., Spiders of Great Britain. 

 Gonatium cheliferum Menge, Preiiss. Spinn. 



Plate XXIII, figuee 6 to 6c. 



The males of tliis species are distinguished by the large femoral 

 joints of the palpi. Fig. 6. Both sexes are 2-5""" long. The 

 cephalothorax is bright orange with a little black between the eyes, 

 from which two or three indistinct lines run back to the dorsal 

 groove. The head is slightly elevated in females and the front 

 middle eyes project beyond the others. In males the part of the 

 head about the eyes is narrowed and much higher. The legs and 

 palpi are light yellow or orange, and the abdomen is gray, usually 

 light, bi;t in some specimens almost black. The epigynuni is dark 

 brown and raised slightly beyond the surface of the abdomen. Fig. 

 6c. The palpi of males are very stout. Figs. 6, Q>h. The femora are 

 thick and extend upward to a point opposite the eyes, and this point 

 is covered with short black teeth. The patella and tibia are short ; 

 the latter has a long hook which bends over the tarsus. Fig. 6. 

 The palj)al organ, Fig. 6a, has a long slender tube supported by an 

 equally slender process about half its length. Between these is a 

 thin flat aj^pendage, and near the tip several soft appendages with 

 finely-cut edges. The front legs of the male are also modified. Fig. 

 6. The femur has a row of long hairs on the front or under side. 

 The tibia is bent and has a line of long hairs on the under side. 

 The metatarsus has a row of 'still stronger hairs on the under side 

 and is slightly bent at the upper end. 



I have not found this spider common anywhere but have specimens 

 from Beverly, Sal-em, Lynn and Qnincy, Mass., and Meriden, Conn. 

 Some were sifted from leaves, others taken on fences in autumn. 



Linyphia (Latr.) Menge. 

 These are the largest s[)iders in this sub-family. They live in 

 comparatively open situations and are brightly colored. The cephalo- 

 thoi'ax is long and the legs long and slender with distiiu-t spines. 

 The abdomen is slightly flattened on the back except in L. phrygiana,, 

 and in iiiarinoratd and convti/uiifi it is widest behind the middle. 

 The ei)igynutn has two large openings without any complicated 

 parts over them. The tarsal hook of the male i)alj>us is very small and 

 sickle-shaped. The tube of the i)al})al organ is short and supported 

 by a thick spirally-grooved i)rocoss, except in Dumdibulata, which 



