and Systematic Arrangement of British Spiders. 469 



the nets fabricated by the Ep'eirida generally. It consists of an 

 elastic spiral line, thickly studded with minute globules of liquid 

 gum, whose circumvolutions, falling within the same plane, are 

 crossed by radii converging towards a common centre, which is 

 immediately surrounded by several circumvolutions of a short 

 spiral line devoid of viscid globules, forming a station from which 

 the toil may be superintended by its owner without the incon- 

 venience of being entangled in it. The viscid spiral line is ac- 

 commodated to the frequent and rapid changes in distance which 

 take place among the radii when agitated by winds or other 

 disturbing forces, by its extreme elasticity ; and, in consequence 

 of this property, insects which fly against the snare are more 

 completely entangled than they otherwise could be without doing 

 extensive injury to its framework. Near the net, and connected 

 with its centre by a strong line, the spider constructs a dome- 

 shaped cell of compact white silk which it usually occupies. 



184. Epeira apoclisa. 



Epeira apoclisa, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. ii. p. 61 ; 



Sund. Yet. Acad. Handl. 1832, p. 243; Hahn, Die Arachn. 



B. ii. p. 30. tab. 48. fig. 116. 



virgata, Hahn, Die Arachn. B. ii. p. 26. tab. 46. fig. 113. 



dumetorum, Hahn, Die Arachn. B. ii. p. 31. tab. 48. fig. 11/ ; 



Koch, Uebers. des Arachn. Syst. erstes Heft, p. 2. 

 sericata, Koch, Uebers. des Arachn. Syst. erstes Heft, p. 2 ; 



Die Arachn. B. xi. p. 110. tab. 385. fig. 914, 915. 

 anaidinacea, Koch, Uebers. des Arachn. Svst. erstes Heft, 



p. 2 ; Die Arachn. B. xi. p. 109. tab. 385. fig'. 913. 

 patagiata, Koch, Die Arachn. B. xi. p. 115. tab. 386. 



fig. 916-919. 

 Titulus 6, Lister, Hist. Animal. Angl. De Aran. p. 36. tab. 1. fig. 6. 



Much confusion in the synonyma of Epeira apoclisa has been 

 occasioned by some of its numerous varieties having, without 

 sufficient investigation, been described as distinct species. The 

 -difficulties attending endeavours to reconcile conflicting opinions 

 in such cases are well known to naturalists, and as thev are un- 

 usually great in this department of zoology, I may be permitted 

 to allege them as an excuse for any errors into which I may in- 

 advertently have fallen in my attempt to elucidate this intricate 

 subject. Perhaps the Epeira foliata and the Epeira nauseosa of 

 M. Koch, 'Die Arachniden,' B. xi. pp. 119, 120, might be added 

 to the synonyma given above, but as I entertain some doubts on 

 this point, I have deemed it better to omit them. 



Epeira apoclisa frequents gorse, heath and rank herbage 

 growing near the margins of lakes, pools and brooks, or in other 



