468 Hentz's Descriptions of the 
miliar to every one, "Their history enters into the history of 
man. If it be nota fiction, it was a spider of this section 
which, by making its web at the entrance of the cave con- 
cealing Mahomet, saved the life of the impostor. The de- 
scription of Ovid is sufficient to show that the ill-fated Arachne 
was transformed into an Errira by the Goddess Pallas, or 
rather by the observant poet of Sulmo. [Ovid’s Metamorph. 
VI. p. 141.] 
Tribe I. Ovarx Inermes. Body without spines, gen- 
erally large. 
1. EPEIRA RIPARIA. 
E. FascrATA? R. A. IV. p. 249. 
Plate XXX. Fig. 5. 
Description. Black, cephalothorax covered with silvery 
white hairs, abdomen varied with bright yellow spots and dots. 
Thighs usually bright rufous at base, except the first pair. Of 
a large size, seldom small. 
Observations. This remarkable species usually dwells on 
the margin of waters, where it makes a web of strong threads, 
in which large Libellule and Melolonthz are often caught. 
The abdomen of the female is flat in the early part of the 
season, and it is not till August, that being distended with 
eggs it assumes the oviform shape. Its cocoon is conical, as 
large as a small plum, like a pear hanging down. Whenever 
opened it was found full of young spiders instead of eggs. 
Is it viviparous? 
Habitat. The United States. 
2. EPEIRA FASCIATA? R. A. IV. 249. 
Plate XXX. Fig. 8. ; 
Description. Covered with silvery white hairs ; abdomen 
with about fifteen transverse, nearly interrupted black bands, 
and several yellow marks between; feet rufous with black 
bands, anterior thighs black. 
