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triangular ; the last very convex above and projecting a good deal 

 over the base of the cephalo-thorax. Its colours usually depend 

 on a pigment in the epidermis, and not on a coloured pubescence. 

 The eyes are sub-equal, not of large size, and are placed in 

 four pairs, often seated on tubercular prominences. Four form 

 a central square, or quadrangular figure, and on each side, 

 usually at some distance, is another pair in an obliquo line ; when 

 closer together they may be described as forming two transverse 

 rows. Thirty-two species of this family, belonging to seven 

 genera, are at present known as British ; of these, twenty-six 

 (representing all the genera) have been found in Dorsetshire, 

 and comprise several of our most abundant and best known 

 indigenous spiders. 



GENUS META, C. L. Koch. EPEIEA, Bladen, in part. 



The cephalo-thorax in this genus is considerably longer than 

 broad, and moderately constricted on the lateral margins of the 

 caput. 



The eyes are on slight tubercles, in two transverse rows, ox 

 four pairs, and the interval between those of the hind-central pair 

 is only a little less than that between each and the hind-lateral 

 next to it. The eyes are, altogether, rather closely grouped ; the 

 fore and hind central pairs form very nearly a square, the fore 

 side being slightly the shortest. The maxillae are strong, rather 

 divergent, enlarged and rounded at their extremities, but not 

 very long, being about double the length of the labium, which 

 is short and rounded at its apex. 



The legs are long (1.2.4.3.), moderately strong, and armed with 

 short and not very strong spines. 



The palpi of the males are rather short, and the palpal organs 

 not very complex. 



The abdomen is only slightly broader in front than behind, 

 being of a rather elongate-oval form, and scarcely perceptibly 

 angular at the shoulders, 



