185 

 LINYPHIA TENEBEICOLA. 



Linyphia tenebrioola, Wider., Zool. Misc. Mus. Senck., p. 260 

 (266), pi. xviii., fig. 2. 



,, tenuis, Blackw., Spid. Great Brit, and Irel., p. 230, 

 pi. xvi., fig. 152. 



,, terricola, Blaclcw., 1.0., p. 231, pi. xvi., fig. 153. 



A very variable spider both in size as well as in depth and dis- 

 tinctness of markings. The male measures from l-10th to l-12th 

 of an inch in length. It is of very slender form. The cephalo- 

 thorax is of a more or less dark yellowish-brown colour ; the 

 legs and palpi are yellow tinged with brown ; tho latter however 

 have the radial and digital joints (with the palpal organs) of ablack- 

 brown colour. The spines on the legs are nearly erect and toler- 

 ably conspicuous. The abdomen is of a dull yellow-brown colour 

 above, more or less distinctly mottled with small white spots, and 

 with a longitudinal central series of angular black lines whose 

 ends generally form roundish blotches ; the sides and underside 

 are black, and the former have each a horizontal, curved, whitish- 

 yellow line meeting each other just above the spinners; this line is 

 frequently interrupted in the middle, and often represented by 

 two mere spots or blotches. The cubital and radial joints of the 

 palpi are short, the latter the strongest, and furnished with a thin 

 tuft of prominent bristly hairs on the foreside, the extremity of 

 which is rather prominent. The digital joint and palpal organs 

 form a roundish mass of moderate size ; the latter are prominent 

 and complex. 



The varieties of this little spider are very numerous ; some 

 males have the abdomen almost black, excepting a marginal 

 whitish line round the fore part, and a lateral longitudinal yellowish- 

 white line ; in others the white specklingpredominatesinbothsexesj 

 and the black angular lines on the upper side, terminating on 

 each side in black blotches, are very conspicuous ; in others 

 again the lateral white line is broken off in the middle, and in 

 Borne (as above remarked) it consists of merely two elongate spots. 



