115 



(Pag. 229.) 18. E. acuminata [ = Erigone altifront (Cambe.) 1863]. 



Syn : f 1834. Theridium acuminatum Reuss, Zool. Misc., Arachn. , p. 226 (232), 



PL XV, fig. it 



? 1841. Argus acuminatus Walck., H. N. d. Ins. Apt., II, p. 370. 

 1863. Walckenaera altifrons Cambr., Descr. of 24 new spec, of Spid. 



etc. in Zoologist, 1863, p. 33 (8593). 



The specific name acuminata had already been given by Black- 

 wall to another species of this genus (vid. sup., p. 109, E. cornuta 

 Westr), before it was given by Reuss to the species considered by 

 Westring, no doubt correctly, as identical with the spider he has 

 here described, and of which he has furnished me with specimens. 

 1 have also received specimens of this species from L. Koch under 

 the name of "E. acuminata Wid." Cambridge's excellent description of 

 his Walck. altifrons in every respect suits E. acuminata Westr., spe- 

 cimens of which, sent to Mr Cambridge, have also been by him 

 declared identical with W. altifrons. 



Blackwall cites the llier. acuminatum of Reuss (and Argus acu- 

 minatus Walck.) as synonyms of his Walcke.naera fastigata (Spid. of 

 Gr. Brit., II, p. 314), which is widely different from E. acuminata 

 Westr. Of the face of that spider Westring rightly observes: "hoc 

 a latere viso lsevissime tantum impresso", — and Reuss' figure also 

 indicates a slight impression — whereas in W. fastigata the anterior 

 portion of the cephalothorax "is divided into two lobes by a deep 

 transverse groove in front", of which "the inferior lobe is very convex", 

 as is also evident in Blackwall's figure, and is the case with E. 

 Thorellii Westr., with which W. fastigata is decidedly identical. 

 (Vid. preceding species). — The elevated part of the head evidently 

 inclines a little forwards, in consequence of the depression below; 

 Reuss also remarks that it is "etwas vorwarts geneigt". 



Lophocarenum acuminatum Menge (Preuss. Spinn., II, p. 201, PI. 

 39, tab. 98), is quite another spider: it is perhaps the same as E. 

 semiglobosa Westr. (see that species p. 119), of which however I 

 am far from certain. 



From E. crassipalpis (Menge), concerning which species vid. infr. 

 p. 118, it is easy to distinguish E. altifrons or acuminata Westr. by its 

 head-eminence being narrower and somewhat, though not considerably, 

 sloping behind: seen from before the breadth of this eminence im- 

 mediately above the anterior row of eyes does not exceed the length 

 of the patella of the first pair of legs the distance between the two 



