602 



at the caput. Colours and markings distinct 



and strongly contrasted. 

 Pholcides. — Eyes 6 or 8 (8 in the only known British genus> 

 p. 76. in three groups, placod transversely, 3.2.3.). 



Spinners 6. 

 Legs excessively long, slender, and weak. 

 Terminal tarsal claws 3. 

 Spiders of rather small size and dull colours, 



with short, roundish cephalo-thorax, and 



somewhat cylindrical abdomen ; and almost 



always found in houses or ruins. 

 Theridiides. — Eyes 8 ; generally pretty closely grouped together 

 p. 79. in four pairs, or two transverse, more or 



less curved rows. 

 Spinners 6. 

 Legs for the most part moderately long, rather 



slender, and armed with spines in some of 



its groups. 

 Lateral marginal constriction at the caput seldom 



very strong. 

 Terminal tarsal claws 3. In some of the 



largest groups the palpi of the females are 



without the terminal claw. 

 Spiders mostly of small size, and the abdomen 



— especially of females — in some groups 



large, and more or less globular in form. 

 This family includes the greater number of 



British spiders. 



OKBITELARLE. 



Spiders forming snares of a more or less perfect geometric or 

 wheel shape, consisting of numerous radii diverging from a 

 central point and crossed by other regularly disposed parallel 

 lines from the centre to the circumference. 



Epeiribes. — Eyes 8 ; arranged in three generally rather widely 

 p. 297. separated groups, placed transversely, 2.4.2. 



