408 ARACHNIDA ARANEAE chap. 



Simon associates with these spiders the genus 3Ieta, which 

 includes perhaps our commonest Epeirid, Meta segmentata, a 

 smallish and not very striking Orb-weaver, with a rather elon- 

 gated or sub-cylindrical abdomen. Every garden is pretty sure 

 to abound in it. 



(iii.) The Argiopinae include many large and very striking 

 members of the Epeiridae. There are about a hundred species 

 oi Argiope (Fig. 198, p. 379) spread over the tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries of the world. They rarely invade the temperate 

 regions, but A. hruenniclii is found in South Europe, and A. 

 trifasciata in Canada. The large spiders with transverse bars 

 of yellow or orange on their abdomen, and often with a silvery 

 sheen, belong to this genus. The species of the allied genus Gea 

 are generally much smaller, and their abdomen more elongated. 

 Both genera are found in tropical and sub-tropical regions all 

 over the world. Argiojie always sits in the middle of its circular 

 web. There are invariably some tlossy zigzag bands of silk 

 stretched between two of the rays, and the web is generally 

 accompanied by an irregular net on its border, where the much 

 smaller male may be found. 



(iv.) Among the Nefhilinae are to be found the largest 

 Epeirids. Indeed, the largest yield in size only to the Avicu- 

 lariidae. Nephila is a tropical genus, numbering about sixty 

 species. The abdomen is generally elongated and somewhat 

 cylindrical, and is strikingly variegated. It is in this group 

 that the disparity in size between the sexes is most marked 

 (see p. 379). 



(v.) The Epeirinae ^ include the bulk of the Orb-weavers, 

 and form a very extensive group. Five genera and twenty-eight 

 species are in the British list. 



^ Simon's treatment of this group in liis Hist. Nat. Ar. does not appear to us 

 satisfactory. He revives the name Araneus as a generic term, a proceeding to 

 which there are very valid objections, and merges in it, in whole or in part, about 

 twenty-five generally received genera, including 800 species. He then proceeds to 

 break up the genus Araneus into six entirely artificial "series," according to the 

 eyes. However unsatisfactory the merged genera may be, nothing seems to be 

 gained by this proceeding. The facts about "Araneus" are these. Clerck and 

 Linnaeus used the name "Araneus " for every member of the order. Latreille, in sub- 

 dividing the order, retained the name for A. {Epeira) diademata (1804), but later 

 (1827) transferred it to A. {Tegenaria) domestica. Walckenaer, seeing the impro- 

 priety of using Araneus as a generic term, discarded it, establishing Epeira, which 

 has since obtained universal recognition. 



