SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



207 



Cephalo-thorax of a greenish colour, with a broad 

 central and narrow marginal band of black. Abdomen 

 reddish, with a distinct, somewhat narrow, dentated 

 band. Not uncommon. 



Th.3rid.i0n simile Koch. 



Length. Male 2 mm., female 2.5 mm. 



The abdomen is extremely convex above, and has 

 a white dentated band edged with brown. Not 

 uncommon. 



Theridion riparium Bl. 



Length. Male 3 mm., female 3.5 mm. 

 Abdomen of a chocolate colour with white mark- 

 ings. Not common. 



Theridion familiars Cb. 

 Length. Male 2 mm., female 2.5 mm. 

 Cephalo-thorax dull orange-yellow with a dark 

 patch behind the eyes. Found in houses. 



Theridion pallens Bl. 



Length. Male 1.7 mm., female 2 mm. 



This spider is easily recognised by its small size. 

 The upper side of the abdomen is marked with a 

 large pale cross. 



Theridion bimaculatum L. ( T. carolinum Bl. ) 

 Length. Male 2 mm., female 2.5 mm. 

 The abdomen is of a dark reddish-brown colour, 

 with a distinct yellow band which varies considerably 

 in different individuals. The sternum of the male 

 has a small projection near its centre, best seen when 

 viewed in profile. The palpal organs are large. I 

 have found numerous specimens of this uncommon 

 spider quite recently in Surrey, under the leaves of 

 the burdock. The female carries its egg-sac attached 

 to the spinners, and helps to maintain it in that 

 position by supporting it with one hind leg. 



Theridion lineatum Clk. {Phyllonethis lineata 

 in " Spiders of Dorset.") 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 5 mm. 



The whole spider is usually of a pale yellow or 

 greenish-yellow colour, the abdomen being marked 

 with a few black spots and lines. A variety is often 

 found in which the upper side of the abdomen is 

 ornamented with two pale crimson bands. The 

 fakes of the male are extremely divergent and armed 

 with a powerful tooth ; they vary considerably in 

 different individuals. This spider, which is extremely 

 common, may be found in the autumn enclosed 

 with its pale bluish-green egg-sac in the folded leaf 

 of a bramble or some similar plant. 



Theridion lepidum Wlk. {Phyllonethis in- 

 slabilis Cb. ) 



Length. Male 2 mm., female 2.5 mm. 



This species is closely allied to T. lineatum Clk., 

 but is much smaller, and the legs are proportionately 

 longer and stronger. The fakes of the male are very 

 similar to those of T. lineatum Clk., but do not seem 

 to be subject to much variation. I have never seen 

 a variety of this species with crimson markings. 



GENUS PHOLCOMMA THOR. 



Via illae inclined towards the labium, 

 weak. Clypeus high. Lyes arranged very much as 

 in the genus Pholcus. Three large eyes are grouped 

 on each side, and between these groups are two very 

 small 1 



Fig. 1. a. Palpus of Theridion sisyphium. b. Palpus of T 

 piii 1 m. c. Palpus of T. pollens, d. Palpus of T. bimaculatum. 



Pholcomma gibbum Westr. 



Length. Male 1.5 mm., female 1.7 mm. 



This little spider may be at once distinguished by 

 the curious grouping of the eyes. It is not at all 

 common, but is widely distributed. I have taken it 

 at Hastings and Epping Forest, and have quite 

 recently received two specimens from Dr. J. W. 

 Williams, who obtained it near llampstead Heath. 



GENUS THEONOE SIM. 



Maxillae inclined towards the labium. Fyes in 

 two rows. Clypeus high. Sternum very convex. 

 Abdomen globular. 



Thsonoe minutissima Cb. 



Length. Male 1 mm. 



The general colouring of the legs and thorax is 

 brown; the abdomen dark olive-green. The most 

 tangible characteristic is the extremely convex 

 Sternum. This is a very rare species. 



( To be continued. ) 



