239 



META SEGMENTATA. 



Araneus seqmentatus, Clerck, Svensk. Spindl., p. 45, pi. ii., 

 tab. 6. 



Epeira inolikata, Walck., Blaclcw., Spid. Great Brit, and Irel., 

 p. 354, pi. xxvi., fig. 255. 

 „ menqii, Blaclcw., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hit. 4, ser. iv., 

 Dec, 1869. 



The size of this very common spider varies considerably, the 

 males measuring from 1$ to 3^ lines in length, and the 

 females from 2J to 5 lines. The profile line of the cephalo- 

 thorax forms a tolerably even and regular curve, and the height 

 of the clypeus is less than half that of the facial space. Its 

 colour is pale yellow-brown ; the caput is dark blackish-brown on 

 the upper side, minus an oval patch on each side near the 

 occiput, and bisected longitudinally by a yellowish line. The 

 dark colouring is prolonged backwards, in a narrow band, 

 through the middle of the thorax ; the caput of the male being 

 less distinctly marked than that of the female. 



The legs are similar in colour to the cephalo-thorax ; those of 

 the female (but not of the male) being more or less distinctly 

 annulated with brown. The first and second pairs, especially of 

 the male, are considerably longer than the rest, and the spines 

 on the legs of the latter sex are much stronger than on those of 

 the female. 



The palpi of the male are short, the radial joint is a little 

 longer than the cubital, and has a very small apophysis at its 

 extremity in front. The form of the digital joint is very peculiar. 

 It has three portions, a rather elongated, slender, straight, and 

 hairy one on the outer side ; above it, towards the front, is 

 another shorter, stouter, shining, straight, and tapering to a 

 blackish point; the third, facing towards the inner side, is 

 the main portion, and is of an irregular, but still somewhat 

 elongate-oval shape. The palpal organs are tolerably prominent 

 but not very complex. 



