THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST. 195 



upon the under side of which the spider clings in an inverted position. The 

 ensnaring capabilities of this sheet are often greatly increased by the presence 

 of numerous fine threads crossing and recrossing some distance above it, and 

 intended to trip up any unlucky insect which happens to fly against them. 

 Many argiopiform spiders spin orbicular snares, the " garden spider " {Aranea 

 diademata, Clk.) being a familiar example. 



Eight argiopiform families are represented in this country, 

 namely, Pachygnathidae, Tetragnathidae, Argiopidae, Ulobori- 

 dae, Mimetidae, Theridiidae, Pholcidae and Linyphiidae. 



This arrangement may be summarised for British species 

 as follows : — 



ORDER ARANEAE. 



Sub-order MESOTHELAE (no British representative). 

 Sub-order OPISTHOTHELAE. 



Section I . Mygalomorphae. 



Family Atypidae. 

 Section II. Araneomorphae. 



Series I. Dysdeviformae. 



Family Dysderidae. 



,, Oonopidae. 



Scytodidae. 



Series II. Drassiformae. 



Family Drassidae Family Hahnidae 



,, Clubionidae ,, Argyronetidae 



,, Anyphaenidae ,, Dictynidae 



Sparassidae ,, Eresidae 



Philodromidae ,, Pisauridae 



Thomisidae ,, Lycosidae 



,, Salticidae ,, Oxyopidae 

 ,, Agelenidae 



Series III. Ar^iopiformae. 



Family Pachygnathidae Family Mimetidae 

 ,, Tetragnathidae ,, Theridiidae 



,, Argiopidae ,, Pholcidae 



Uloboridae ,, Linyphiidae 



It will be noticed that many of the primary divisions of the 

 order are founded upon characters which, although systematically 

 of paramount importance, are very obscure and, in some cases, 

 confined to one sex. The differentiation of the spiracular 

 systems, for example, would be certain to utterly confuse the 

 beginner, necessitating as it does the most delicate methods of 



