266 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 



GENUS EUCTA, SIMON, 1881. 



The general characteristics of this genus are those of Eugnatha, the side eyes being 

 widely separate, much more so than the middle eyes. The genus is especially distinguished 

 from Eugnatha by the prolongation of the abdomen into a caudal like apex, which extends 

 some distance beyond the spinnerets. 



No. 112. Eucta lacerta (WTILCKENAER). Plate XXIV, Figs. 5, 6 ; PL XXVIII, 5. 



1842. Tetragnatha lacerta, WALCKKNAER. 1 Ins. Apt., ii., p. 224; ABBOT, G. S., No. 496. 

 1884. Tetragnatha caudata, EMERTON . . N. E. Ep., 335, xxxix., 16-22. 

 1889. Eucta caudata, MARX Catalogue, p. 552. 



FEMALE: Total length, 8 mm.; cephalothorax, 2 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide; abdomen, 7 

 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide at the base, diminishing almost to a point. The general color in 

 alcohol is yellow, the abdomen covered with metallic golden reticulations. 



CEPHALOTHORAX : Rectangular ovate, truncated at the base, where it is somewhat 

 higher than in front; color yellow, with brownish bands on either side of the fosse, 

 extending along the edges of the caput; face yellow, as are the mandibles. Sternum an 

 elongated shield, rounded in the centre ; yellowish brown, with a lighter median band. 

 The fangs, when folded, extend to the maxillse. The latter organs are widest at the tips, 

 and about three times the length of the labium, which is obtusely triangular at the tip. 



EYES: (Fig. 5d.) Ocular quad slightly elevated in front, widest behind, eyes not 

 greatly differing in size ; MF separated by about 1.5 diameter, MR by about 2 diameters. 

 Side eyes about one-fourth further removed from one another than are the middle eyes ; 

 somewhat smaller in size. Front eye row is procurved (5b), the rear row decidedly 

 recurved. MF are separated from one another by about one-half less than the space 

 between SF and MF. The clypeus is about the height of two diameters MF. The space 

 between MR is greater than that between MR and SR. 



LEGS: 1, 2, 4, 3 ; uniform yellow, thin almost to feebleness, covered with slight pubes- 

 cence. The mandibles are yellow, long, narrowed, and slightly widened at the tip ; about 

 one mm. long. 



ABDOMEN : At least seven times as long as wide, diminishing almost to a point ; 

 spinnerets elongated, from one-fourth to one-third the distance from the apex; color 

 yellow, with golden reticulations, and median lines of brownish hue drawn along the 

 dorsum, marking out an imperfect folium ; venter a long band of yellow, bordered by 

 sinuated lines of yellowish brown. The epigynum an arched atriolum, without scapus. 



MALE : (Fig. 6.) Is smaller and slighter than the female ; resembles it in color and 

 marking. The abdomen is squarely truncate at the base, and terminates in a caudal exten- 

 sion, as with the female. The mandibles are relatively longer than the female, but little 

 curved, almost straight upon the exterior margin. The fangs are feeble as compared with 

 Tetragnatha; an elongated spur upon the upper surface, about one quarter the distance 

 from the apex. One long tooth marks the superior claw furrow about one-third the dis- 

 tance from the apex. Palp is longer, the radial joint scarcely longer than the cubital. 



DISTRIBUTION : This species has been collected as far north as Canada, in New York 

 (Banks), New England, New Jersey, District of Columbia (Marx), and as far south as 

 Florida and Alabama, and to the southwest as far as Arizona and Texas. It is probably 

 distributed throughout the entire United States, at least east of the Rocky Mountains. 



1 From Walckenaer's description and Abbot's drawing I have no doubt that this is identical with 

 Emerton's Tetragnatha caudata. Walckenaer expresses the opinion that the species should probably be 

 placed in a new genus, but, not having more than the drawing to guide him, left it provisionally with 

 Tetragnatha. Abbot calls it the " Lizard Spider," and adds the note : " This singular spider resembles a 

 lizard in the abdomen. It commonly carries the end crooked, like the tail of some animals." 



