404 ARACH NIDA—ARANEAE CHAP. 
that they are usually marked with red or yellow spots on the 
abdomen. They have been referred to in the section on the 
venom of spiders (see p. 362). 
The genus Steatoda possesses one English species (S. bipwnetata) 
which is extremely common in buildings and in the angles of 
walls, and is a rather striking spider, with dark cephalothorax, 
and livid brown abdomen with a broken white stripe down the 
middle. Several closely allied genera are also sparingly repre- 
sented in this country, among which may be mentioned Crustu- 
lina (two species), Asagena (one species), Zewtana (two species), 
Inthyphantes (one species), Laseola (five species), and Huryopis 
(two species). In some of these the male is provided with a 
stridulating organ between the thorax and abdomen (Fig. 185, 
p- 227). The remarkable genus Tetrablemma (see p. 318) 1s 
considered by Simon to have affinities with this group, though 
Pickard-Cambridge, who first described it, is inclined to rank it 
among the Dysderidae. 
(iv.) The PHORONCIDINAE are a remarkable group of spiny 
Theridiids whose superficial resemblance to the Gasteracanthinae 
of the Epeiridae (see p. 409) has often deceived 
Arachnologists as to their true affinities. There 
are eight genera, all exotic, inhabiting hot 
countries, and spinning a Theridion-like web 
on bushes. Phoroncidia has twelve species in 
South Asia and Madagascar. TZrithena (Fig. 
208) is its American representative, five species 
being found in South America, Ulesanis has 
Fic. 208.—Trithena «bout twenty species, and extends from South 
tricuspidata 2. America to Australia. 
x 34. (After : 
Simon.) (v.) The ERIGONINAE are an immense group 
of minute, sober-coloured spiders, which include 
the “ Money-spinners”” of popular nomenclature, and are largely 
responsible for the gossamer which fills the air and covers every 
tuft of grass in the autumn. The number of species described 
is very large and constantly increasing, and more than a hundred 
are recognised as British. 
Desperate efforts have been made of late years to grapple with 
this almost unmanageable group, but the multitude of genera 
which have been proposed can hardly as yet be considered to be 
finally established. The small size of these spiders, which 
