and the male, •whose abdomen, both in form and colours, is strik- 

 ingly like that of the species last named, may be distinguished with 

 great ease by the structure of the palpal organs. These have a 

 long, filiform, black spine issuing from thoir extremity on the 

 inner side, and forming, on their outer side, a large, bold, 

 prominent, circular bend, which projects considerably beyond 

 them. 



The abdomen of the female is yellowish-white on the upper 

 part and on a portion of the sides, with three longitudinal, more or 

 less irregularly dentated, dark, rich, slightly reddish-brown 

 bands, one along the middle, and another on each side. Those 

 on the side usually unite at their posterior extremities, and are 

 joined there by the central band. There is, however, consider- 

 able variety in the perfection, form, and strength of these 

 bands ; in some examples they are very strong, and usurp most 

 of the surface; in others they are quite narrow, and broken. 

 The remainder of the sides, and the under part, are of a uniform, 

 doop black-brown hue. 



Found at Bloxworth, and in other localities in Dorsetshire, in 

 tolorablo abundance, among coarse grass and low plants in 

 meadows, and in open places in woods and plantations, in the 

 early summer time. It occurs also in othor parts of England, 

 as well as in North "Wales and Scotland. Its snare is similar to 

 that of its congeners. 



GENUS EEO, C. L. Koch. THEEIDION, Bl., in part. 



The remarkable little spider upon which this genus has boon 

 founded is included in the genus Theridion by Mr. Blackwall. It 

 has certainly some characters in common with Theridion ; but it 

 has also others, of a striking naturo, in common with the repre- 

 sentatives of two other genera — one South European ( Ctenophora, 

 BL), the other exotic (Galena, 0. L. Koch.) — differing, however, in 

 various respects from them both ; it is therefore here included 

 in Koch's genus Ero, of which it was, until recently, the only 

 known British representative. 



