225 



its extremity in front ; the radial joint is shorter, and smaller, 

 and has a conical prominence underneath, near its extremity, 

 with some long, black bristlos on its under and inner sides. The 

 digital joint is of great length, and of an elongate, somewhat 

 irregular, oval form, the outor side of the base having three 

 obtuse prominences ; the palpal organs are vory prominent and 

 complex, with various conspicuous processes. 



The abdomen projects well over the base of the cephalo- 

 thorax, and is of a yellowish- white colour, frequently suffused with 

 a lively pinkish hue, and reticulated with fine dark lines. The 

 upper side is divided longitudinally by a black-brown band, 

 often somewhat dentated, and emitting fino lateral ramifications ; 

 and on each side is a longitudinal row of similarly coloured, and 

 often confluent spots ; the two rows converging abovo the 

 spinners. The sides are marked with several obliquo blackish 

 lines, and the under side is brown with some palo spots. 



Varieties occur in which the abdomon has scarcoly any dark 

 markings, excepting an indistinct, longitudinal, central stripe. 



The sexes are very similar in colours and markings, but, as 

 usual, the female is the larger. 



An abundant species at Bloxworth, and in many other localities 

 in Dorsetshire, under stonos and logs, at the bottom of hodgorows, 

 among thick fern and heather, especially where there is much 

 dead dobris of the former years' growth. It is also found in 

 other parts of England and in Scotland. The usually distinct 

 markings, and its size, render this generally an easy spider to 

 distinguish, but in its vory young stagos it may easily be mis- 

 taken for Linyphia lutcola, Bl. 



LINYPIIIA MONTANA. 



Araneus montanus, Clerck., Sv. Spindl., p. 64, pi. 3, Tab. 1. 

 Linyphia marqinata, Blackw., Spid. Great Brit, and Irel., p. 

 213, pi. xv., fig. 140. 



The male measuros from l-4th to l-5th of an inch in length, 

 and is somotimes even a little larger. 



