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DESCRIPTION OF GENERA AND SPECIES. ive 
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It is not strange that the remarkable diversity of markings and color upon the dorsum of 
the abdomen of this spider should have led Baron Walckenaer to erect a number of species 
thereupon from the manuscript drawings of Abbot in his possession. In my paper here- 
tofore referred to,1 I mentioned this fact, and therein gave Epeira eustala as the proper 
title of this species. The more thorough studies which I gave Abbot’s MSS. in the summer 
of 1892 showed me that the first description in order is given under the name of FE. anastera, 
on page 33, and is No. 4 of Walckenaer’s descriptions of the Orbweavers. This corresponds 
with Abbot's No. 381, which is sufficiently accurate to be recognized as the species under 
consideration. I have only given in the synonyma these two first occurring names. For 
the benefit of future students I place in the foot notes the various titles of the species 
which Walckenaer has given, with their corresponding numbers in Abbot’s drawings.* 
Fremate: Total length, 7.3 mm.; abdomen, 5.3 mm. long, 5 mm. wide; cephalothorax, 
2.9 mm. long, 2.4 mm. wide in the middle, narrowing in front to about a millimetre. The 
general colors of the fore part of the body vary from yellow and yellowish brown to orange 
brown; the abdomen from yellow to yellow and dark brown. This organ, however, is 
greatly varied in markings and shades of color, as illustrated in Plate VIII., Figs. la-If. 
Some of the specimens are entirely without color upon the dorsal field, which is white, 
with a blackish central spot, or with blackish interrupted triangular lines. These variations 
are not wholly dependent upon the moulting, as they exist in mature females, numbers of 
which have been compared with a view to determining this fact. Hentz describes the 
species as rather inclined to be nocturnal in its habits, being motionless during the day, 
but active after sunset. It runs with great speed, leaping like an Attus (E. prompta). Its 
snare is usually pitched upon shrubs and bushes and among grasses and weeds, and 
resembles that of E. strix. I have seen it sitting upon its hub in a position which is 
sometimes assumed by its congeners, the abdomen partly resting upon the broken lines of 
the hub. The spider matures in June and July, and the young are found later in the 
season. 
CrrHatornorax: High in the middle, sharply sloping to the truncated base; sides 
rounded ; dorsal fosse a rather deep slit placed on the sloping base below the crest; 
cephalic suture distinct; head sloping toward the front; skin smooth, provided with yellow 
hairs; corselet brown, with flecks of yellow, the head yellow or yellowish brown, as is also 
the face, except at the posterior part of the ocular quad; partly covered with whitish 
hairs. Mandibles colored as face and head. The sternum is shield shape, scarcely longer 
than wide, with marked sternal cones; the centre flattened, the color yellow, with patches 
of yellow around the margins. Labium subtriangular, wide at the base, yellowish brown, 
as are the maxille, which are wide as long. 
yrs; Ocular quad on a marked prominence, this portion of the face, indeed, seeming 
to be contracted ; the front slightly wider than rear, and about the width of the sides, the 
quad forming nearly a square. MF somewhat smaller than MR, separated by twice their 
diameter or more, and by an even less space from MR; MR separated by about 1.5 to 1.7 
their diameter. Side eyes propinquate, separated by about or less than a radius, nearly 
equal in size, but less than those of the central group; MF separated from SF by about 
1.3 their area, or more than twice the distance between them; height of clypeus about 1.5 
diameter MF or more; front row is slightly procurved, and decidedly so viewed from 
behind and above; the hind row is also procurved, and decidedly longer than the front 
row, being set well to the side of SR instead of behind it, so much so that the two side 
*Epeira cepina W. No. 13, p. 87; Abbot, Nos. 178, 157. E. apatroga W. No. 23, p. 43; Abbot, Nos, 371, 
878, 876. 1. spatulata W. No. 24, p. 44; variety C; Abbot, Nos. 171, 366. BE. illustrata W. No. 25, p. 45; 
Abbot, Nos. 186, 187, 188. HE. decolorata W. No. 29, p. 49; Abbot, Nos. 345, 390. BE. vividia W. No. 38, p. 54; 
Abbot, No. 474. E. triflex W. No, 48, p. 60; Abbot, No. 112. E. trinotata W. No. 62, p. 75; Abbot, No. 272. 
BH. subfusca W. No. 63, p. 67; Abbot, No. 273.' Thus this one most variable species has been described by 
Walckenaer as eleven distinct species, and a number of varieties in addition is included under these 
descriptions. A like confusion marks the descriptions of Professor Hentz, his Epeira prompta, BP. hebes, 
E, foliata, and E. bombycinaria being probably variously marked specimens of the same species, 
