270 



the genital aperture of the female is rather shorter and stronger 

 than that of Epeira diademata. The stornum is black. 



This is not a very abundant spider, but I have met with it in 

 various parts of Dorsetshire, and Mr. 0. W. Dale has sent it to 

 me from Glanvilles Wootton ; it has also been sent to me from 

 other parts of England, and from Scotland. I have usually- 

 found it on the outskirts of woods, and under thick hedge rows, 

 where it is a conspicuous object sitting in the middle of its 

 extensive snare, which is spun, at no great distance from the 

 ground, in a vacant spaco among the branches and herbage. 



Dr. Thorell is of opinion that this spider is the variety 

 pyramidata of the Aranea marmorea, Clerck., the typical form of 

 which closely resembles Epeira diademata, but has never yet been 

 found in Britain. I am not yet, however, convinced of the 

 identity of Epeira scalaris and Epeira marmorea. I have oxamined 

 numerous examples of both sexes and all ages of Epeira scalaris 

 from many parts of England and Scotland, and never saw one 

 differing in the smallest degree from the typo above described, 

 and, therofore, not in any way approaching the type of Epeira 

 marmorea. Of the last spocies, however, I have not had the 

 opportunity of examining well authenticated adults. If Epeira 

 scalaris should indeed be identical with Epeira marmorea, it is an 

 exceedingly romarkablo fact that this variety should be the only 

 form found in England and Scotland, while both forms are com- 

 mon in Sweden. 



EPEIRA ANGULATA. 



Epeiea angtjlata, Clerclc, Blaclcw., Spid. Great Brit, and Irel., 

 p. 360, pi. xxvii., fig. 259. 



The length of the female is nearly 6 linos, the male being 

 somewhat smaller. 



This spider may be known at once by the large conical pro- 

 tuberance at each fore corner of the upper side of its somewhat 

 Bub-angularly-shaped abdomen ; these protuberances give it 

 a distinctly triangular appearance. 



The colour of the cephalo-thorax, which is thickly clothed 



