437 



found in the same locality ; but the latter spider differs in the 

 form of the radial joint of the palpus, and has no tooth like 

 that noted on the falces of Neri'ene viva. 



NERIENE DILUTA. 



Erigone diltjta, Cambr., Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875, p. 331, pi. xliv., 

 fig. 6. 



Length of the male from l-18th to l-16th of an inch, the 

 female being a little larger. 



This obscure little spider is nearly allied to Linyphia Fredcrici, 

 Cambr. (p, 186), and to L.oblivia, Cambr. (p. 214), but it is, I 

 think, quite distinct from both of them. 



It may be distinguished from Linyphia Fredcrici by the follow- 

 ing differences : — the ocular area is narrowor f rom back to front ; 

 the height of the clypeus is nearly or quite equal to half that of the 

 facial space, while in Linyphia Fredcrici it is distinctly less ; the 

 spines on the legs are not quite so long nor so strong, being in 

 fact scarcely, if anything, more than mere bristles ; and the 

 abdomen is nearly globular instead of ovi-form. The differences 

 noted above in respect to the width of the ocular area, the form 

 of the abdomen, and the height of the clypeus, will also serve 

 to distinguish this spider from Linyphia oblivia. 



The eyes are rather closely grouped together, and the interval 

 between each of those of the hind central pair and the fore- 

 central eye nearest to it, is less than that which separates the 

 hind-centrals. 



The digital joints of the palpi are of moderate size, and the 

 palpal organs are complex ; a noticeable feature in these organs 

 is furnished by a long, slender, dark-coloured, corneous process, 

 running along, but generally just free from their outer side, and 

 slightly angularly bent in the middle ; a correspondingly situated 

 process in Linyphia Fredcrici is stronger and of a simply and 

 regularly curved form. 



