198 
THERIDIIDiE. 
anterior ones much the smallest of the eight. The falces are small, conical, armed with a few 
teeth on the inner surface, and inclined towards the sternum, which is broad and heart- 
shaped. The maxillae are obliquely truncated at the extremity, on the outer side, and inclined 
towards the lip, which is semicircular. The legs are robust, and provided with hairs and a 
few fine spines ; the first pair is the longest, then the fourth, and the third pair is the shortest; 
each tarsus is terminated by three claws; the two superior ones are curved and pectinated, 
and the inferior one is inflected near its base. The palpi have a curved claw at their 
extremity. The abdomen is subglobose, somewhat depressed, thinly clothed with hairs, 
glossy, and projects greatly over the base of the cephalo-thorax. 
M. Walckenaer appears to regard Theridion fuscum as identical with Argus formivorus 
( c Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt.,’ t. iv, p. 502), from which it differs in size, structure and 
colour, presenting all the essential characters of a Theridion. 
Females of this species may be found towards the close of the year on rails and under 
stones, in pastures near Llanrwst. 
Theridion auratum. PI. XIV, fig. 128. 
Sigaloessa aurata, Templeton, MS. History of Irish Arachnida. 
Length of an immature male, |th of an inch. 
The tumid but imperfectly developed digital joints of the palpi of the specimen here 
described denote that it is a male which had not arrived at maturity. The cephalo-thorax is 
obcordate, much carinated anteriorly, glossy, and of a chesnut-black colour; underneath it is 
of a brownish-black hue. The abdomen is globular or ovate, and its colour is golden-yellow; 
it is studded with short, stiff, dark-brown hairs, which are accumulated on the sides and in 
the medial line of the upper part, giving in the latter the appearance of a broad, longitudinal, 
brown fascia; underneath, a dark-brown fascia extends from the branchial opercula to the 
spinners. The legs are taper, hairy, and, with the palpi and falces, of a chesnut-black 
colour. A much paler variety of this species may sometimes be observed. 
A few specimens of Theridion auratum have been taken at Cranmore. 
Theridion ha;matostigma. PL XIV, fig. 129. 
Sinamorus hcematostigma , Templeton, MS. History of Irish Arachnida. 
The female of this small Theridion has the cephalo-thorax oval, and of a pale-brown 
colour, edged by a faint, dark line; in the middle there is a line which is double anteriorly, 
but single and much darker at the central thoracic point, whence dark lines extend to the 
origins of the legs ; underneath it is glossy, and of a reddish or orange hue. The abdomen is 
ovate, hairy, and of a dark-gray colour, approaching to black, on the upper part, especially 
