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Family LINYPIIIID/E. 
The spiders included in this family, though distributed over a large part of the earth’s 
surface, appear to be most abundant in temperate climates. Their falces are articulated 
vertically or on an inclined plane, and they have three pairs of spinners and two branchial 
opercula connected with the abdomen. Different species exhibit much diversity in the 
absolute and relative dimensions of their legs, and the tarsi are terminated by three claws. 
The situations most commonly frequented by the Linyphiidce are the branches and foliage 
of trees and shrubs, rank herbage, crevices in rocks and walls, overhanging banks, the under 
side of stones, and the inside of buildings. For the capture of their prey they fabricate a 
fine sheet of web, varying greatly in extent, on the inferior surface of which they take their 
station in an inverted position. Connected with adjacent objects by its margin, the web, in 
many instances, is further supported by fine lines intersecting one another at various 
angles, and having their extremities attached to its surface and to objects situated above and 
below it. 
Genus LINYPHIA {Latr.). 
Eyes disposed on the anterior part of the cephalo-thorax in two transverse rows; the four 
intermediate ones describe a trapezoid whose shortest side is before, and those of each lateral 
pair are near to each other. 
Maxillae straight, or slightly inclined towards the lip, and somewhat quadrate. 
Lip semicircular, or nearly triangular. 
Legs long and slender; the first pair is the longest, then the second or fourth, and the 
third pair is the shortest. 
