277 



EPEIBA PATAGIATA. 



Epeira patagiata, C. L. Koch., Blaclcw., Spiel. Great Brit, and 

 Irel., p. 329, pi. xxiv., fig. 239. 



In size, form, colours, and pattern this spider nearly resombles 

 Epeira comuta, to which it is very closely allied, and from which 

 some examples of the female are not easily distinguished ; it is, 

 however, generally a darker coloured spider, examples being 

 frequent, in which (in the male) the whole, or the greater part, 

 of the dentated band on the abdomen is black, bordered by a 

 yellow line, and with an irregular yellow marking at the middle of 

 the fore-extremity. The palpal organs (of tho male) give an 

 unfailing character for the distinction of that sex from Epeira 

 comuta ; the prominent downward- directod process at their baso, 

 instead of boing long, rather slender, and straight, is short, very 

 strong, and curved, the cleft being deep and gaping, and tho 

 smaller limb of the cleft part obtuse at its extremity. 



Although Epeira patagiata inhabits situations similar to those 

 in which Epeira comuta is found, it is (in England) a rare and 

 local spider ; in fact, I have myself only met with it in one or 

 two localities in Dorsetshire — at Blox worth, and in Morden Park — 

 where, in the summers of 1862 and 1863, both sexes occurred 

 on furze bushes, among rushes, and on tho lower boughs of 

 trees, in damp places ; its snare and habits are the same as those 

 of Epeira comuta. 



EPEIRA SCLOPETARIA. 



Araneus sclopetaritjs, Clerch, Sv. Spindl., p. 43, pi. ii., tab. 3. 

 Epeira serioata, C. L. Koch., Blackw., Spid. Great Brit, and 

 Irel., p. 328, pi. xxiii., fig. 238. 



This fine spider is closely allied to tho two foregoing species ; 

 it is, however, larger, the male measuring from 3£ to 4£ lines in 

 length, and the female from 4 to 6£ lines. 



The cophalo-thorax is deop brown, clothed with grey hairs, 

 some of which are so arranged as to form a very distinct, trans- 



