400 Mr. J, Blackwall on a neio Species o/Epeira. 



is of a yellowish colour reticulated witli brown, has a broad, 

 dark-brown longitudinal band in the middle, bounded on each 

 side by a yellowish-white line ; two yellowish-white spots 

 occur on each side of the spinners ; and the branchial opercula 

 have a brownish-yellow hue, that of the sexual organs, which 

 are moderately developed and glossy, being reddish-brown. 



The male is smaller and darker-coloured than the female ; 

 but its legs are longer, an anterior one measuring -i|- of an 

 inch, and those of the third and fourth pairs are commonly 

 without dark annuli. There is a general resemblance in the 

 design formed by the distribution of the colours on the upper 

 part of the abdomen of both sexes, but it is not so well defined 

 in the male as in the female. The cubital and radial joints of 

 the palpi are short, the latter, which is the longer, having a 

 very minute apophysis at its extremity in front ; the digital 

 joint consists of three parts : one, which is straight and glossy, 

 with a minute process on its outer side, projects in front ; an- 

 other, united to the base of the former on its outer side, is 

 slender and hairy ; and the third, which is much the largest, 

 is somewhat oval, greatly contracted at the base, convex and 

 hairy externally, and concave within ; all are connected with 

 the palpal organs, which are moderately developed, not very 

 complex in structure, with a strong piece curved obliquely 

 from the upperside to their extremity, and are of a dark red- 

 brown colour. The convex sides of the oval parts of the 

 digital joints are directed towards each other. 



This spider, which varies greatly in colour, is of frequent 

 occurrence in Denbighshire, constructing its symmetrical snare 

 in the intervals between the slender branches of low bushes, 

 especially of such as grow in woods. In its structure, habits, 

 and economy it bears a very close resemblance to Epe'ira in- 

 clinata^ but it is smaller and lighter-coloured than that species, 

 and constantly begins to pair early in June, about three months 

 sooner than its nearly allied congener. 



M.Menge, in his ' Preussische Spinnen,' p. 88, pi. 14. tab. 24, 

 has noticed several minute particulars in which the spider 

 above described appears to differ from Epeira inclinata {Meta 

 segmentata, Menge), but does not consider them of sufficient 

 importance to constitute a species. The interesting fact al- 

 ready alluded to, of which M. Menge probably may not be 

 cognizant, namely, that the times at which these spiders re- 

 spectively arrive at a state of maturity are separated by a 

 period of rather more than three months, I regard as such con- 

 clusive evidence of their specific distinctness that I do not 

 hesitate to confer on this Ep)etra the name of the distinguished 

 Prussian arachnologist. 



