FAMILY THEKIDIIDES. 



GENUS THERIDIOSOMA, Cambr. 



Cephalo-tliorax short ; thorax round-oval, and, looked at in 

 profile, gradually rising in a curve to the ocular area ; caput 

 strongly constricted on the lateral margins, and deeply indented 

 on each side near the thoracic junction. 



Eyes of tolerable size, closely grouped, subequal, and in two 

 rows ; the posterior row much the most strongly curved. Those 

 of the fore-central pair on a tubercular prominence. The four 

 central eyes form a trapezoid whose anterior side is shortest. 



Legs short, moderately strong; relative length 1.2.4.3., or 

 1.4.2.3., furnished with coarse hairs and a few strong bristles 

 only. 



Maxillee short, strong, straight, convex in front, broad at their 

 extremities, where the outer side is well rounded, and the inner 

 side rather less so. 



Labium short and somewhat semicircular. 



Abdomen large, and globular. 



This is a genus of very great interest, and appears to be a 

 connecting link between Theridion and Epeira. Dr. L. Koch 

 includes a very closely allied species in the genus Theridion (T. 

 gemmosum), but the form of the maxillro and the stronger legs 

 seem to exclude it entirely from that group, and to necessitate a 

 new genus for its reception. Dr. Koch describes the snare as 

 consisting simply of a few lines spun from plant to plant. This 

 habit, together with some structural considerations, exclude it 

 from the Ejoeirides, which, however, it resembles very closely in 

 the form of the maxillco. The egg cocoon is pear-shaped; it is 



