BRITISH SPIDERS OF THE GENUS MICRONETA 1 37 



which can be described as intermediate, all of the specimens 

 being either very broad or very narrow. Possibly this great 

 variation may be seasonal, but I have not noticed it in the 

 other species, in all of which the variability in this particular 

 seems to be slight. In every case however the two terminal 

 joints are tumid and broader than the femur. 



The epigyne is usually distinctive enough, but sometimes 

 examples do occur of which it is impossible to be certain. 

 The main features are the narrow, very slightly bifid central 

 process, and the fine almost vertical striae which ornament it 

 on each side. The whole organ is larger than that of 

 A. decora. 



Unfortunately the height of the clypeus and the shape of 

 the cephalothorax are very variable, and are unreliable as 

 specific guides except to differentiate the present species 

 from A. conigera (Plate VIII., 4e, \{). 



A. subtilis Camb. is a widespread form, and has occurred 

 to my knowledge in Dorset, Devon, Glamorgan, Derbyshire, 

 Cheshire, and Northumberland. It seems, however, to be 

 commoner in the South than the North. Probably it is local 

 in the northern counties. 



It occurs chiefly amongst moss in woods, fields, and 

 swampy places, but seems to prefer damp places in woods. 



Agyneta cauta Camb. 



Microneta cauta Camb. Proc. Dors. F. Club, vol. xxiii., 



1902, p. 31 and figs., male not female. 

 Microneta passiva Camb. Proc. Dors. F. Club, vol. xxvii., 



1906, pp. 89, 90, and figs., male not female. 

 Microneta passiva Camb. Proc. Dors. F. Club, vol. xxxi., 



1910, p. 53 and figs., female. 



(Plate VIII., figs. 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, se, sf.) 



The above specific types were carefully compared. The 

 female described (sub cauta) in 1902 is A. subtilis Camb., 

 whilst that described in 1906 (sub passiva) is Micryphantes 

 sax a tills Bl. 



