LINYPHIA. 
223 
Length of the female, Jth of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, „th, breadth, ^,th; 
breadth of the abdomen, #h ; length of an anterior leg, jrd ; length of a leg of the third 
pair, 5th. 
The cephalo-thorax is oval, slightly compressed before, convex, glossy, with an indenta¬ 
tion in the medial line; it is of a pale yellowish-brown colour, with black lateral margins, 
immediately above which there is a longitudinal row of triangular, black spots, and a band 
of the same hue, bifid before, extends along the middle. The falces are long, conical, 
divergent at the extremity, provided with several slender spines in front, armed with teeth on 
the inner surface, and inclined towards the sternum, which is heart-shaped; the maxillm are 
straight, somewhat quadrate, having the exterior angle, at the extremity, curvilinear; and 
the lip is semicircular and prominent at the apex. These parts have a yellowish-brown tint, 
the maxillae and sternum being the palest. The legs are long, slender, provided with a few 
erect spines, and of a pale yellowish-brown colour, with brownish-black annuli; each tarsus 
is terminated by three claws; the two superior ones are curved and pectinated, and the 
infeiior one is inflected near its base, where there are one or two very minute teeth. The 
palpi have numerous long spines on their radial and digital joints, and a slightly curved claw, 
minutely dentated about a third of its length, at their extremity; their colour is similar to 
that of the.legs. The eyes are seated on black spots; the four intermediate ones form a 
trapezoid whose anterior side is the shortest, and those of each lateral pair are placed 
obliquely on a small tubercle, and are contiguous ; the anterior eyes of the trapezoid are the 
smallest of the eight and very near to each other. The abdomen is oviform, convex above, 
projecting over the base of the cephalo-thorax ; the upper part is of a greenish-white colour, 
reticulated with fine, yellowish-green, or greenish-brown lines, and has a series of greenish- 
brown, angular lines, whose vertices are directed forwards, extending along the middle ; at 
its anterior extremity there is a curved, black band, comprising four white spots disposed 
transversely, which extends rather more than half of its length along the sides; from each 
extremity of this band a black line passes obliquely upwards and forwards, forming with it 
an acute angle, and between the angular point and the spinners there are two oblique, black 
streaks united near the middle; below the band and streaks numerous yellowish-white spots 
occur; the under part has a reddish-brown tint, with a few minute, yellowish-white spots, 
and a black streak passes above the exterior margin of the branchial opercula, which have a 
pale yellowish-white hue; a long, depressed process of a red-brown colour, directed back¬ 
wards, is connected with the sexual organs. 
The colours of the sexes and the design formed by their distribution are similar, but the 
male is smaller than the female. The cubital and radial joints of its palpi are short, the 
latter, which is the stronger, being very convex on the outer side ; the digital joint is some¬ 
what oval, with a pointed process at its base, curved outwards, and a prominent lobe on its 
outer side ; it is convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs ; 
these organs are highly developed, complex, with corneous processes, the largest, which is 
obtuse, curving above the base of the joint, and are of a red-brown colour. 
As the opinion entertained by Professor Sundevall, that Linyplda socialis and Linyplda 
annulipes are identical, appears to be correct, the former name, imposed upon this species 
by the Professor, must take precedence of the latter. 
30 
