On EUROPEAN SPIDERS. 
1865. Atea Ontert, Arachnol. Studien, p. 9. 
+ 1866. Cerceis MENGE, Preuss. Spinn., p. 80. 
Type: Cercidia prominens (WESTR.) 
This genus, set up by MENGE under the already engaged name of 
Cerceis?) for WESTRING'S Singa prominens, differs in sundry important par- 
ticulars from the other European Epeiroide. The hard, almost leather-like 
skin of the abdomen, and the unusual relative lengths of the legs (the 4" 
pair being longer than the first) are sufficient to justify the formation of 
this new genus; but in addition to this there are, according to MENGE, 
peculiarities in the structure of the organs of generation, and a small trans- 
versal opening in front of the spinners, in which 4 fine tubes (supposed 
by MENGE be air-tubes) terminate ?). The cocoon is like that of Æro but 
without shaft. Conf. MENGE, loc. cit., p. 80, 81. 
Genus 6. ZILLA (C. Kocn). 1834. 
Deriv.: Zilla, prop. name. 
Zygia C. Koch, in Hurr.-Scumrr., Deutschl. Ins., 123, 17—19. 
Syn.: + 1834. 
1834. 
1887. 
+ 1845. 
1861. 
1364. 
1864. 
1866. 
1866. 
1867. 
Zilla 1D., ibid. (ad part.:) 125, 19. 
»  ID., Uebers. d. Arachn.-Syst., 1, p. 5 (ad partem). 
Eucharia ID., Die Arachn., XII, (ad part.:) p. 103. 
Zilla WEsTR., Aran. Suec., p. 68. 
Epeira Buackw., Spid. of Gr. Brit., II, p. 323 (ad partem). 
Nyotobia [Nuctobia]: sub-gen. Zilla Srw., Hist. Nat. d. Araignées, p. 236, 237 
(ad partem). 
Zilla MENGE, Preuss. Spinn., I, p. 76. 
Zygia ID., ibid., p. 77. 
OnnERT, Aran. d. Prov. Preuss., p. 21. 
” 
Type: Zilla x-notata (CLERCK.) 
The genera Zilla and Meta appear to us to have with good reason 
been separated by C. KocH from Æpeira WALCK.: they form in many re- 
spects a transition to the family Theridioidæ, and are distinguished from 
Epeira not only by SIMON, MENGE and OmnrERT, but also by WESTRING; 
BLACKWALL however still includes the species of this genus under Æpeira. 
SIMON has even formed of them a separate tribe of Epeiroide, which, as we 
have seen above, he calls ”Nuctobiens” or " Théridio-Epéires” ; they form however 
1) Vid. sup. p. 37. 
2) As to these air-tubes see however p. 30, note 1). 
