Spiders captured in Canada. 07 
21. Theridion sisyphum. 
Theridion sisyphum, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. 2. 
_ p. 298; Latr. Genera Crust. et Insect. t. 1. p. 97; Hahn, Die 
Arachn. B. 2. p.47. tab. 58. fig. 132. 
Theridion lunatum, Sundevall, Vet. Acad. Handl. 1831. p.111 ; 
Koch, Die Arachn. B. 8. p. 74. tab. 273. fig. 645. 
Araneus rufus, Lister, De Aran. p. 53. tit. xiv. fig. 14. 
Genus Puoucus, Walck. 
22. Pholcus phalangioides. 
Pholcus phalangioides, Walck. Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt. t. 1. 
p. 652; Latr. Genera Crust. et Insect. t. 1. p. 99; Hahn, Die 
Arachn. B. 2. p. 34. tab. 50. fig. 119; Blackw. Linn. Trans. 
vol. xix. p. 125. 
The spider referred to by Mr. Jesse in his ‘ Scenes and Tales 
of Country Life,’ pp. 202 and 203, as remarkable for the rapidity of 
its vibratory motions when disturbed, is, I have no doubt, Pholcus 
phalangioides, which frequents ancient buildings in the south of 
England, and, like Epétra diadema, Theridion quadripunctatum 
and some other species, has the habit of violently agitating itself 
when anything suddenly touches its lines. This vibratory mo- 
tion, which in the case of Pholcus phalangioides appears to acquire 
its maximum of velocity, is produced by the partial contraction 
and extension of the joints of the legs im quick succession, as I 
have ascertained by occasioning specimens of Hpézra diadema to 
continue the action till it became so slow, in consequence of the 
fatigue experienced by the animals, that there was no difficulty 
in determining the manner in which it is effected. This singular 
proceeding is evidently intended by the spider to communicate 
motion to its snare and thus to cause the struggles of any msect 
entangled in it, by which means it is directed with certainty to its 
victim. 
I may here remark that the large spider alluded to in the same 
publication, p. 339, as peculiar to Hampton Court, and there 
named the “ Cardinal,” most probably is the Tegenaria domestica 
of arachnologists. 
Family Epiirrips. 
Genus Epittra, Walck. 
23. Epéira affinis. 
Length of the female ;%ths of an inch ; length of the cephalo- 
thorax 44; breadth 5%, ; breadth of the abdomen 4 ; length of an 
- anterior leg ;9,; length of a leg of the third pair 3. 
Cephalo-thorax compressed before, moderately convex, with a 
large indentation in the medial line of the posterior region ; it is 
