BRITISH SPIDERS, 



79 



CASE SCYTODES THORACICA (Zfl'/r. V— 23. Enlarged sketch. 

 VII. 



No. 23. Yellowish. The abdomen is spotted with black. 



Family PHOLCID^. 

 Pholcus phalangioides (/F(7/tZ'.).— 1, Enlarged sketch. 



Easily recognised by its long body and very long legs. It is 

 of a pale colour, with irregular faint markings ; the knee joints 

 are thick and dark. It forms a loose hanging web in the corners 



Pholcus phalangioidcs (slightly enlarged). 



of rooms, &c. Like many other spiders, the female carries about 

 with her the cocoon containing her eggs : it is of a slight texture, 

 and the eggs and young when newly hatched may be seen through 

 its walls. 



Family THERIDIID/E. 

 The species of this genus are distinguished by the abdomen 

 being large rounded or angular, and overhanging the thorax. 

 They form snares composed of fine threads crossing each other 

 in all directions, attached to the surrounding bushes or herbage, 

 and the general character of the snare is constant throughout the 

 family, however it may vary in individual species. Some of them 

 also form curious delicate tents for the protection of their cocoons 

 from the weather. To this family belongs the venomous species 

 Latrodectes malmignatus, &c., already described. 



