and Systematic Arrangmient of British Spiders. 117 



of sisyphum, and theii* place should be supplied by the following 

 statement. 



Theridion sisyphum occurs in the South of England, and was 

 observed by Lister in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and York- 

 shire. He remarks that it fabricates an extensive snare on the 

 trunks of large oaks, and between the greater branches of trees ; 

 and that towards the end of June the female usually constructs 

 in this snare a dome-shaped cell, whose concavity is directed 

 downwards, in which she deposits one or more lenticular cocoons 

 of a red-brown colour, containing her eggs. 



After Theridion sisyphum in the catalogue (Annals and Mag. 

 of Nat. Hist. Second Series, vol. viii. p. 338) add 



Theridion tepidariorum. 



Theridion tepidariorum, Koch, Die Arachn. B. viii. p. 75. tab. 273. 

 fig. 646, tab. 274. fig. 647, 648. 



This spider I had regarded as a variety of Theridion sisyphum, 

 but by comparing numerous individuals with s])ecimens of the 

 latter species, for which I am indebted to Mr. R. H. Meade, I 

 have satisfied myself that they are distinct ; as, though nearly 

 aUied, they present differences in size, structure and colour ; it 

 will be seen also that there is a want of coincidence in their habits 

 and oeconomy. 



In Germany, as in Britain, Theridion tepidariorum has only 

 been met with in conservatories, a circumstance which has in- 

 duced M. Koch to conjecture, M'ith great probability, that it is 

 not indigenous to that country, but that it has been introduced 

 with exotic plants ; and this conjecture applies with equal force 

 to our own country. His words are, " fast mochte ich diese Art 

 als eine urspriinglich deutsche in Zweifel ziehen, indem sie, wie 

 es scheint, nur in warmen Glashausern vorkommt ; vielleicht ist 

 ihre Brut mit aussereuropaischen Pflanzen nach Deutschland 

 gebracht worden" (Die Arachn. B. viii. p. 78). 



Theridion varians. 



Since the remarks under this head appeared in the catalogue 

 (Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist. Second Series, vol. viii. p. 443), 

 1 have captui'ed an adult female Theridion varians which had only 

 six eyes ; the two posterior intermediate ones were entirely want- 

 ing, and the posterior eye of each lateral pair had not half of the 

 usual size. An inexperienced observer might be induced by the 

 symmetrical arrangement of the organs of vision in this individual 

 not only to give it a place in the tribe Senoculina, but also to 

 propose a new genus for its reception. 



