529 



This spider is easily distinguished from the two other British 

 species of the genus (pp. 239 — 241) hy its much larger size and 

 different colours. 



Found in cellars, caves, old ruinous buildings, and other 

 obscure damp situations in North "Wales and the north of Eng- 

 land (County Durham), where, to tho walls and roofs of such 

 situations, the female suspends her large, balloon-shaped, delicato 

 white silken cocoon, through the walls of which the pale flesh- 

 coloured eggs within can be plainly soen. There seems to be no 

 reason why, in suitable situations, this fine spider should not 

 occur in the south of England — perhaps in Dorsetshire. I have 

 received it from Brittany. 



GENUS EPEIEA, Walck. 



EPEIEA CEROPEGIA. 



Epeira oeropeoia, Walck., Blackw., I.e. p. 347, pi. xxv., fig. 250. 



Length of the male 3-10ths of an inch. Female rather 

 smaller. 



This fine and handsome spider is noarly allied to Epeira 

 aiianta (p. 261), resembling it closely in pattern, but is much 

 largor, and generally darker coloured. The fore half also of the 

 tibiaj of the second pair of legs is curved and considerably 

 enlarged on tho inner side, whoro it is armed with somo prominent 

 and extra-strong spines. The palpal organs togethor with tho 

 digital joint form a very large mass. Tho former are vory 

 prominent and complex, with soveral strong, vory projecting 

 pointod processes on their outer side towards their f oro extremity. 

 Theso processes are much stronger and more conspicuous than 

 those of Epeira adianta. 



Found by the late Mr. Francis Walker, at Piercefield, near 

 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, in the autumn of 1853, since which 

 time it has not, so far as I am aware, been met with in Great 

 Britain. 



