408 ARACHNIDA—ARANEAE CHAP. 
Simon associates with these spiders the genus JJeta, which 
includes perhaps our commonest LEpeirid, 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 
of Argiope (Fig. 198, p. 379) spread over the tropical and sub- 
tropical countries of the world. They rarely invade the temperate 
regions, but A. bruennicht is found in South Europe, and 4. 
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. Argiope always sits in the middle of its circular 
web. There are invariably some flossy 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 NeEpHILINAE 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. 
1 Simon’s treatment of this group in his 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 4. (Hpeira) diademata (1804), but later 
(1827) transferred it to A. (Tegenaria) domestica. Walckenaer, seeing the impro- 
priety of using Araneus asa generic term, discarded it, establishing Epcira, which 
has since obtained universal recognition. 
