REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW BRITISH SPIDERS. 415 
fig. 94) will prove to be only a variety of Ergatis variabilis, which is an exceedingly 
variable species in its colour and markings. 
Genus ULOBORUS, Dugès. 
Veleda, Blackw. 
ULOBORUS WALCKENAERIUS. 
Uloborus walckenaerius, Dugés, Régne Animal de Cuvier, pl. 10. fig. 41; Walck. Ins. Apt. tom. ii. 
p. 228, pl. 20. fig. 1; Hahn, Die Arachn. Bd. i. p. 122, pl. 35. fig. 62; Latr. Gen. Crust. et Ins. 
vol. i. pp. 109, 110; Guérin, Dict. Class. d’ Hist. Nat. 5, t. xvi. p. 458. 
Veleda lineata, Bl. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3rd ser. vol. iii. p. 96; Brit. & Irish Spiders, part i. 
p. 150, pl. x. fig. 96. i 
lam unable to discover any distinction between examples of Uloborus walckenaerius 
received from Dr. Koch, of Nürnberg, examples of the same species captured by myself 
in Palestine, and the typical specimens upon which Mr. Blackwall founded his genus 
and species Veleda lineata. Mr. Blackwall admits that these specimens possess many 
characteristics in common with spiders of the genus Uloborus, but separates them from 
that genus on account of their possessing a fourth pair of spinners and calamistra, infer- 
ring that, as Uloborus was stated to construct a snare on the same plan as spiders of the 
family Epeirides, therefore it did not possess these peculiarities. 
The examples, however, that I found in Palestine were in such snares as above 
mentioned, and certainly do possess calamistra and a fourth pair of spinners; this is 
also the case with the examples forwarded to me from Germany by Dr. Koch. It 
appears to me, therefore, that these facts cast great doubt not only upon the scientific 
propriety of including Uloborus in the family Ciniflonides, but also upon the tenability 
of that family, which is based upon the possession of a fourth pair of spinners and cala- 
mistra. These peculiarities of structure seem to me to have at most generic importance, 
and perhaps are only of specific value, though this last remains to be proved. 
The whole question of family relationship among Spiders is a very difficult one, and, 
paradoxical as it may sound, it is far easier to establish a family than to characterize it; 
i.e. it is easier to form a natural group of genera than to define shortly and succinctly 
the characters by which the different genera are united. 
Fam. AGELENIDES. 
Genus AGELENA. 
AGELENA PROXIMA, n. sp. (Pl. 54. no. 13.) 
Male adult, length 3 of an inch; female rather larger. 
This species bears a close resemblance to the Agelena brunnea of Blackwall ; mm many 
specimens of it submitted to Mr. B. for examination several years ago were pronounced 
by him to be of that species. Subsequent and close examination of its palpi (which differ 
in structure from those of Agelena brunnea) has convinced me that it is a distinct, though 
closely allied, species. It may always be recognized from A. brunnea by its constantly - 
