DESCRIPTION OF GENERA AND SPECIES. 255 



pubescent; the mandibles are conical, thick at the bases, arched to the tips; dark glossy 

 brown, pubescent on the inner faces; on either side of the base they are raised into a 

 process or cog which fits against a corresponding notched projection in the dewlap of the 

 face; palps armed and colored as legs. 



ABDOMEN : Cylindrical, widest at the base, compressed in the middle, again widening 

 towards the apex, where it is one-half the width of the base ; the front overhangs the 

 cephalothorax, and the apex projects but little beyond the spinnerets, which are at the base 

 of the high apical wall ; the color, as far as can be noted from the imperfect specimen, is 

 light brown, with a simple yellow folium extending the entire length of the dorsum, widest 

 at the base and divided on the median line by a ribbon of brown ; it thus presents the 

 appearance of two yellow bands traversing the dorsum, and uniting in front like a tuning 

 fork. A band of yellow crosses the base above the cephalothorax, and directly in front are 

 curved markings, which extend along the sides in an interrupted band of yellow rounded 

 and elongated spots. The venter is velvety brown, with bright yellow spots arranged five 

 on either side, and two directly on the median next the epigynum, which is simply a 

 semicircular flap projecting over the genital cleft. 



DISTRIBUTION : One specimen, collected at Fort Buchanan, Arizona. Dr. Marx, in his 

 Catalogue, also locates it at Mariposa, California. It will probably be found well dispersed 

 along the Pacific Coast, in the more tropical parts thereof. (Marx Collection.) The speci- 

 mens described by Leach and Fabricius are from China, and there is little doubt that the 

 species is widely distributed along the coasts of Asia, whence, it may be, it was transplanted 

 to America, unless one may choose to suppose a reverse direction of movement. 



No. 103. Nephila clavipes (LINN^US). Plate XXIV, Fig. 1. 



1758. Aranea clavipes, LINNAEUS .... Systema Natura, i., ii., p. 1034, n. 27. 



1775. Aranea clavipes, FABRICIUS .... Systema Entomologise, ii., p. 420, n. 50. 



1778. Aranea fascieulata, DE GEER . . Mem. 1'Hist. Nat. des. Ins., vii., p. 316, No. 2, 



pi. xxxix., 1-4. 



1806. Epeira claripes, WALCKENAER . . Hist. Nat. des Araneides, fasic. i., F, 1,2. 



1839. Nephila fascieulata, KOCH .... Die Arachniden, v., p. 30, pi. 152, Fig. 355. ' 



1842. Epeira clavipes, WALCKKXAER . . Hist. Nat. Insect. Apt., p. 95. 



1890. Nephila fascieulata, MARX .... Catalogue Described Araneae, p. 551. 



FEMALE: Total length, 22 mm.; cephalothorax, 9 mm. long, 6.5 mm. wide, face width, 

 5 mm. ; abdomen, 14 mm. long, 6 mm. wide at the base, and of nearly equal width 

 throughout, but somewhat diminished at the apex, which is rounded and projects over the 

 spinnerets. 



CEPHALOTHORAX : A long oval ; slightly compressed at the truncated apex, flattened on 

 the summit of the corselet by the deep circular fosse; color blackish brown, covered 

 (apparently) with silvery white hairs, especially long on the sides. The head is slightly 

 elevated, wide at the face, and upon the base of the caput are two strong conical spurs. 

 The sternum shield shaped, the basal width about equal to the length; sternal cones dis- 

 tinct, and one especially prominent in front of the labium, as in Nephila Wilderi ; the 

 margins are thickly covered with yellowish, bristlelike hairs ; the labium and maxilhe 

 normal, and covered with long, curved, blackish bristles. 



EYES : The ocular quad upon a prominence, much elevated in front ; sides longer than 

 width, and rear wider than front; MF larger than MR, and separated by about 1.5 diameter; 

 MR separated by 2.5 to 3 diameters; the side eyes on strong tubercles, about equal in size, 

 separated by 1.5 diameter ; SF removed from MF about 1.3 the area of the latter, or 2.5 to 

 3 times the intervening space. The clypeus height is about 2.5 diameters of MF. The front 

 eyerow is slightly recurved, the rear slightly procurved. 



1 Walckenaer has pointed out what appears to me to be a fact, that, in some way, the plate numbers 

 of Koch have become confused. Figure 355 is undoubtedly intended for the above species, not for the one 

 bearing the plate name of "Nephila clavipes," as stated in the plate. 



