195 



is of a pale dull yellowish hue, more or less mottled with white ; 

 on the fore half of the upper side is a longitudinal, central, 

 brown, or at times black-brown, bar generally somewhat 

 dontated. On either side of this bar, towards its hinder part, 

 and converging together above the spinners, are two rows of 

 black spots, varying in size and shape in different examples, and 

 representing the usual angular lines or bars, all the central or 

 angular portions of which are obsolete in this species, excepting 

 occasionally the last two or throe. The sides are marked with 

 some black lines and bars, generally a longitudinal horizontal 

 one, and several other oblique ones; these lateral markings are often 

 more or less obsolete, and sometimes run into each other. In 

 some examples the abdominal markings are almost obliterated ; 

 the under side is blackish-brown, often marked with two longitu- 

 dinal, rather converging, lines of white spots. 



The female is larger than the malo, and its markings are 

 usually more distinct and perfect. 



This vory distinct spider is found, though rarely, at Bloxworth 

 in late summer and autumn, among rough grass and heather ; 

 but is much more abundant in some localities in the North of 

 England; and is also found in Wales. It must not be con- 

 founded with its very close ally Linypkia alticeps, Sund., 

 which it nearly resembles, being, however, not quite so large, 

 and oasily distinguished by the fore extremity of the caput of 

 L. alttceps, being drawn out into a distinct, bluntish point 

 between the eyes ; the spine-liko bristle also on the cubital 

 joint of the male palpus differs. The latter spider has not yet 

 been mot with in Dorsetshire. 



LINYPHIA CRISTATA. 



Bathyphantes cristatus, Mcnge, Preuss. Spinn. 121, Tab. 46, 



pi. 22. 

 Linyphia cristata, Cambr., Linn. Trans, xxx., p. 328. 

 „ explicata, Cambr., I.e. 



9, decolor, Cambr., I.e., xxvii., p. 437, pi. 56, No. 28. 

 Subsequent repeated and careful examinations have convinced 



