82 



ARACHNOIDEA. 



CA^SE and trees. 



Paris, and is somewhat pear-shaped, with several little points 



No. 



Nos. 



It is white, of a close fine texture like plaster of 

 is somewhat \ 

 projecting from its surface. 



Family LINYPHIID^. 

 This family is included by Mr. Cambridge among the 

 Theridiidse, but in this instance we prefer to follow Mr. Black- 

 wall's arrangement. They are small insects, many of them black 

 or brown and others grey, and often the abdomen is more or 

 less barred with black. They frequent foliage or overhanging 

 banks or other projections, and fabricate a fine horizontal 

 sheet of web, supported by its margin and threads like guy-ropes 

 stretching out in various directions, on the under side of which 

 they take their stand in an inverted position: 



LiNYPHiA MONTANA {Walck.')—^, Enlarged figure. 



A very common species. It constructs, in hedges and rank 

 herbage, a large horizontal web, which is connected with sur- 

 rounding objects, especially above by numerous fine lines, that not 

 only serve to support the web, but also to precipitate such insects 

 as strike against them, on to the horizontal sheet, where they are 

 quickly seized by the vigilant occupant. 



Walckenaeria pratensis {BL). — 5. En- 

 larged figure of male ; 6. Enlarged figure 

 of female. 



The genus Walckenaeria is composed, 

 with very few exceptions, of minute dark 

 brown or black glossy spiders, without 

 any pattern or variation of colour on 

 the body. They are the tiny creatures 

 that everyone must remember to have 

 come against in autumn, hanging by a 

 thread from door lintels or branches, 

 when they become entangled in our 



Walckenaeria pratensis, female 

 (magnified). 



