222 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



towards the end, which tends under, leaving the base within the atriolum and the portulse 

 exposed on either side ; it thus presents the appearance of the clasp of a padlock when shut 

 down; the color of this scapus is amber. 



MALE: I have but one specimen which I regard with little doubt as the male of this 

 species, and which is perfect with the exception of the two hind legs. (Fig. 2b.) The 

 specimen is relatively even smaller than the males of Argiope cophinaria and argyraspis, 

 being 3.7 mm. in body length. The cephalothorax and legs are a uniform yellowish 

 brown ; the abdomen has the same silvery white appearance as that of the female, but to a 

 less degree. Longitudinal stripes of yellow pass on either side of the median line or the 

 dorsum. The basal processes are distinctly marked, and along the sides of the abdomen 

 appear what I take to be indications of the feteral projections or lobes. In a specimen in 

 the Marx Collection the lobes show plainly. (Fig. 2.) The face, mandibles, and eyes, in 

 general construction and arrangement, resemble males of A. argyraspis. The eyes have the 

 front row slightly procurved, the rear row decidedly so; SF decidedly smaller than SR 

 and contingent. (Fig. 2c, Plate II., 2b.) The palp has a single strong spinal bristle projecting 

 from the tip of the cubital joint, and the radial joint is well provided with long bristles. 

 The boatlike cymbium is of yellowislr color, and strongly covered with bristles. The inly- 

 ing convolutions (Figs. 2d, 2c) present characteristics something like a combination of the 

 palpal digits of both A. cophinaria and A. argyraspis. A strong black spiral process, bluntly 

 terminated, is a marked characteristic by which it may be easily determined. 



DISTRIBUTION: This beautiful species inhabits Southern California, from which I have 

 received numerous specimens (Mr. Orcutt, Mrs. Eigemann) ; from Magdalena Bay, off the 

 coast of Lower California (Mr. C. H. Townsend). I have also specimens from Florida, and 

 Dr. Marx reports it in his Catalogue from Texas and Arizona. Abbot collected it in 

 Georgia and the Southern States, and has two fine figures in his manuscript drawings. 

 The species is well distributed throughout South America, and inhabits also the West Indies 

 (Costa Rica, Santo Domingo), whence I have several specimens (Mr. William Gabb). It may 

 be regarded as tropical and subtropical in its habitat. 



No. 74. Argiope avara THORELL. Plate XIV, Figs. 1, la. 



1868. Argiope avara, THORELL Fregatten Eugenics Resa., Aranese, Vetensk. Akad. 



Handling, p. 27. 



FEMALE: Total length, 18 mm.; abdomen, 14 mm. long, 13 mm. wide; cephalothorax, 

 6.5 mm. long, 5.5 mm. wide; face, 2.5 mm. wide. 



CEPHALOTHORAX : Corselet rounded at the margin, very flat and thin, though somewhat 

 elevated in the centre; fosse deep, head depressed, and flattish on top; color brown, with 

 yellowish white on the margin, covered with silvery white hairs; sternum dark brown, 

 with a broad median band of bright yellow, narrowing towards the apex, and with radiate 

 points at the corners, presenting the appearance of a pelt of a vertebrate animal ; somewhat 

 longer than wide, pointed at the apex, with well developed sternal cones; clothed with 

 strong bristles and hairs. Labium is subtriangular ; maxillae as wide as long, and both 

 brown, with yellowish margins. 



EYES : Ocular quad elevated ; widest behind, somewhat longer than wide ; MF separated 

 by about 1.5 diameter; MR .about equal MF in size, and separated at least or more than 

 two diameters; side eyes on strong tubercles; SR much larger than SF, separated by about 

 or less than radius SF; MF are removed from SF by about their alignment; height of 

 clypeus about two diameters MF; front row somewhat the longer, rear row decidedly pro- 

 curved. The side tubercles have a band of yellow at the base, which passes across the 

 middle of the ocular quad. 



LEGS: 1, 2, 4, 3, as follows: 35, 33, 28, 16 mm. Although probably darkened much by 

 the alcohol, appear to be a rich dark brown, with dark annuli at the tips of the joints, 

 which on the metatarsi and tarsi are black; they are not stout, rather thin, indeed, for such 



