192 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



to confii'm Black-Ball's statement — as to wliicli Mr. Cambridge (Spid. 

 Dorset, p. 256) expresses doubt — that this species haunts crevices of 

 rocks as Tvell as herbage. In September the cliffs on the north Dublin 

 coast (Portrane) and Dalkey Island are hung -with the snares of these 

 spiders; the long palps of the males rendering any mistake as to the 

 species impossible. Its British and general ranges appear to correspond 

 closely -^th those of Z. x-notata. 



Ar emeus cucurliUnus, CI. 



Eneira cxicurlitina, Bl. (Spid. Gr. B. I.). 



Ulster, Connaught, Munster, Leinster. 



This species is fairly common in northern and eastern Ireland, but 

 I have no records for the more ■western parts of Ulster, Connaught, 

 and Munster. Londonderry, Ballyshannon, Clonbrock, Limerick, 

 Kenmare, and Skibbereen are the most western localities from which 

 I have received specimens. This species is found adult from May till 

 August. It is generally distributed in Great Britain (Dorset, Suther- 

 land), and throughout Europe, ranging from 70° lat. in Norway to 

 southern Spain, and eastwards into central Asia. 



Araneus diadematus, CI. 



I^peira diaderna, Bl. (Spid. G. B. I.). 



Exceedingly common, and distributed over the whole country, 

 ascending the mountains to 2000 feet. Specimens have been taken 

 on Dalkey Island, off county of Dublin ; Yalentia Island, county of 

 Kerry ; A chill Island, county of Mayo ; and Inishmore, Aran 

 (Galway Bay). The females from the last-named islet are very dark, 

 the white cross-marking on the abdomen being reduced to a few small 

 dots. The ground colour of this spider's abdomen varies greatly. 

 Individuals spinning their snares on furze bushes are usually light 

 brown, agreeing closely with the dried flower of the furze ; while 

 specimens taken from a granite cliff on the "Wicklow mountains are 

 deep black, the effect of -which, in conjunction with the white mark- 

 ings, closely resembles the black mica and white felspar of the rock. 

 The eggs of this species, laid in autumn, hatch out in early summer. 

 Young individuals are found fi'om June till October, and these appear 

 to hibernate and to reappear about half -grown in the following spring ; 

 they increase in size through their second summer, reaching maturity 

 sometime as early as July, but as a rule not until August. In 

 September adults are abundant, and may also be observed in October. 

 Very rarely these seem to surTive. the winter. I have adults of 



