FAMILY DICTYNIDES. 



j]N the typical group of this family (Dictyna, Sunrt., 

 Ergatis, Blackw.) tho caput is more or less considerably 



_ olovated, but in other groups not so much ; in all it is 

 compressed on its lateral margins, thus differing from Emits ; 

 all tho f omales have calamistra on the metatarsi of tho fourth 

 pair of logs, the males possessing only the supernumerary 

 spinning organ in front of the usual spinners. Tho tormina! 

 tarsal claws are three in number. 



GENUS DICTYNA, Staid EKGATIS, Blachv. 



The cophalo-thorax in Dictyna is, in most instances, consider- 

 ably raised above the thorax in a very convex form. The falces, 

 especially in males, are long, strongly curved, or excavated on their 

 inner sides, and prominent in front near their base. The eyes are 

 in two transverse curved rows, those of each latoral pair near 

 together. The legs are rather short, 1.2.4.3., and have calamistra 

 on tho metatarsi of tho fourth pair. The maxilleo are nearly 

 straight, rather rounded at their extremity, and inclined towards 

 the labium, which is large and of a somewhat sub-triangular 

 form. Immediately in front of the ordinary spinners is the 

 supernumerary spinning organ, described in tho introductory 

 chapter. 



This genus comprises a group of small spiders, whose habit is 

 to spin an irregular snare, consisting of numerous lines crossing 

 and recrossing each other, among the blooms of tho rush, or at 

 the extremity of heather shoots, or in and among the leaves of 

 other plants, as well as of low trees. The femalo lays her eggs 

 in small cocoons within the snare, and carefully guards them 

 until the young are hatched. 



