xv EPEIRIDAE 409 
No spider is more familar than Epeira diademata (Fig. 181, 
p. 225), the Garden-spider, par excellence, which attains its greatest 
size and spreads its largest snares in the autumn. The smaller 
and much less couspicuous Zilla x-notata is sure to be’ found 
abundantly in the same locality. Several other Epeirids are to 
be found in this country, especially in the south, by sweeping 
heather or bushes with a net, or shaking the boughs of trees over 
an wnbrella or other receptacle. The little apple-green species is 
Epewra cucurbitina, E. cornuta is extremely common in marshy 
places all over the country. In furze bushes, and often among 
sedge in swampy places, will frequently be found #. quadrata, 
one of the largest and handsomest species we possess. The 
ground-colour may vary from orange-red to green, and there 
are four conspicuous white spots on the abdomen. ‘The tent- 
like retreat which this spider makes near its snare often catches 
the eye. 
E. umbratica is a dark flat, somewhat toad-lke Epeirid of 
retiring habits, which stretches its snare usually on wooden 
palings, between the timbers of which 
it squeezes its flat body, and waits for 
insects to entangle themselves. 
Two of our finest Epeiras, Z. pyrami- 
data and E. angulata (Fig. 210), are 
seldom met with, and only in the south. 
Our only Cyclosa (C. conica) is easily 
recognised by the peculiar form of its 
abdomen, which is greatly prolonged 
beyond the spinnerets. It is a small, 
rather dark species, which constructs a 
particularly perfect snare. 
Five British Epeirids belong to the 
genus Singa. They are small creatures, 
not exceeding a sixth of an inch in length. They live in heathery 
and marshy localities. 
(vi.) The GASTERACANTHINAE are a remarkable group of 
Epeirids, characterised by the hard and coriaceous integument 
covering the abdomen, which is usually furnished with a number 
of more or less formidable thorn-like spines, calculated to render 
these spiders by no means pleasant eating for insectivorous birds. 
An even more constant characteristic is the presence on the back 
Fic. 210.—Epeira angulata, 2. 
