2 34 



SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



fore uniform in the language. The process is 

 not only confined to dialects. The native of a 

 small country who knows no other language but, 

 his own is increasingly at a disadvantage. He is 

 obliged to learn other languages both for use in 

 commerce and also to assist him in any scientific 

 study. After a careful analysis of the reasons 

 that make one language of more value than another, 

 the author concludes that either French or English 

 will have the upper hand by the end of the twentieth 

 century. We think it will probably be the latter 



owing to the rapid extension of the Anglo-Saxon 

 possessions. 



Our readers will probably have observed the 

 leading feature in Mr. Wells's arguments is that all 

 progress depends on facilities for rapid and easy 

 transit, and in the main this would appear to be 

 the case. There is much matter for consideration 

 in " Anticipations," but if the author had sum- 

 marised his conclusions at the end of each chapter, 

 we think it would have been of great assistance 

 to the reader. F. WlNSTONE. 



AN INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH SPIDERS. 



By Frank Percy Smith. 



(Continued from f*age ig8.) 



GENUS LABULLA SIM. 



This genus may be distinguished from Lepthyphantes 

 by the anterior eyes being practically equal in size. 

 Metatarsal spines are present. 



Labulla thoraeica Wid. {Linyphia cauta Bl.) 

 This species, being our only representative of the 



genus, may be distinguished by the generic characters. 



It is not rare. 



GENUS TARANUCNUS SIM. 



This genus may be distinguished from Lepthy- 

 phantes by the posterior row of eyes being strongly 

 curved. 



Taranucnus setosus Cb. 



This rare species is the only representative of the 

 genus. 



GENUS LINYPHIA LATR. 



Metatarsus I. as long as tibia. Tarsus I. half as 

 long as metatarsus. Eyes of posterior row separated 

 by intervals greater than their diameters. 



Linyphia triangularis Clk. (L. montana Bl.) 



Length. Male 5.5 mm., female 6.5 mm. 



The cephalo-thorax has a narrow central line, 



strongly bi'urcate at its anterior extremity. The 



fakes of the male are usually excessively large. An 



extremely common species, adult in the autumn. 



Linyphia montana Clk. (L. marginata Bl.) 

 Length. Male 6 mm., female 7 mm. 

 Cephalo-lhorax yellow-brown, the caput being the 



darkest. Legs brownish-yellow, distinctly annulated. 



This species is widely distributed and spins a very 



perfect horizontal saucer-like snare amongst bushes 



and low trees. 



Linyphia insignis HI. 



Length. Male 4 mm. 



The radial joint of the male is furnished with a 

 distinct process on the outer side. The female has a 

 very prominent elongate epigynal process. Not rare 

 in the North of England. 



Linyphia marginata Koch. (Z. triangularis 

 Bl.) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 5 mm. 



Allied to L. triangularis Clk., but the central 

 abdominal band is furnished with a double row of 

 small cream-coloured spots. Rare. 



Linyphia peltata Wid. (Z. rubea Bl.) 

 Length. Male 3 mm., female 4 mm. 

 Closely allied to Z. triangularis Clk., but lacks 

 the bifurcate thoracic stripe. Not rare. 



Linyphia impigra Cb. (Z. impigra + Z. 



circiancincta Cb. ) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female 4.5 mm. 



Cephalo-thorax dull orange-yellow, with a central 

 line bifurcate anteriorly and some dusky converging 

 markings. Abdomen white above, with a central 

 longitudinal brown band, and with a row of brown 

 spots on either side. Very rare. 



Linyphia pusilla Sund. (Z. fuliginea Bl. ) 



Length. Male 4 mm. , female larger. 



This species may be best distinguished by the pos- 

 session of a very long and prominent black spine 

 connected with the palpal organs and projecting con- 

 siderably beyond them. Not rare. 



Linyphia hortensis Sund. (/. prarcnsis Bl.) 



Length. Male 4 mm., female larger. 



Cephalo-thorax dark yellowish-brown, much the 

 darkest at the caput. Legs orange-yellow. The 

 palpal organs of the male, in common with several 

 other species of this genus, are terminated by a coiled 

 spine enveloped by a semi-transparent membram . 

 Not common. 



