LINYPHIIDiE. 
268 
are situated. The radial joint of its palpi is shorter than the cubital, and has three apophyses 
at its extremity; one on the inner side, which is long, slender, curved, and pointed; a small 
one in front, also curved and pointed; and a short, obtuse one underneath; the digital joint is 
oval, convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs, which are 
highly developed, complex, with spine-like processes, and of a dark, red-hrown colour. 
In May, 1833, males of this remarkable spider, which had acquired their full develop¬ 
ment, were discovered on rails and gates at Oakland, and both sexes have since been met with 
in the same locality and at Crumpsall Hall. 
Neriene bituberculata. PL XVIII, fig. 182. 
Theridion bituberculatum, Wider, Museum Senckenb., Band i, p. 222, taf. 15, fig. 2. 
Argus bituberculatus, Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom. ii, p. 363. 
Length of the male, ^th of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, ^th, breadth, 5? th, 
breadth of the abdomen, ^th ; length of a posterior leg, ith; length of a leg of the third 
pair, rath. 
The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, depressed at the base, with an indentation m 
the medial line, and the anterior part, which is elevated, is surmounted by two large, parallel, 
conical protuberances, directed forwards, having a prominent ridge on each side of their base, 
it is of a reddish-yellow colour, the conical protuberances being much the palest, and the 
narrow, lateral margins and ridge on each side of the protuberances having a biown hue. 
The eyes are small, and disposed in two transverse rows on the anterior part of the cephalo- 
thorax, immediately below the conical protuberances, but high above the frontal margin, the 
four intermediate ones form a trapezoid whose anterior side is the shortest, and those of each 
lateral pair are seated obliquely on a minute tubercle, and are almost in contact; the anterior 
eyes of the trapezoid are the smallest of the eight. The falces are conical, vertical, and armed 
with a few teeth on the inner surface ; the maxillae are enlarged at the base, where the palpi 
are inserted, pointed at the extremity, and strongly inclined towards the lip; the sternum is 
broad, glossy, and heart-shaped; the legs are moderately long, and supplied with hairs; the 
fourth pair is rather the longest, then the first, and the third pair is the shortest; each tarsus 
is terminated by three small claws ; the two superior ones are curved and slightly pectinated, 
and the inferior one is inflected near its base. These parts are of a reddish-yellow colour. 
The lip is semicircular, prominent at the apex, and has a dark-brown hue. The palpi are 
robust, and resemble the legs in colour, with the exception of the digital joint, which has a 
brown hue; the cubital joint is clavate; the radial joint is short, and projects from its 
extremity three apophyses; one, situated on the inner side, is long, slender, and cuived out¬ 
wards ; another, on the outer side, is strong and obtuse, and between these there is a small, 
dark-coloured one, which terminates in two minute, diverging points; the digital joint is oval, 
convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs, which are highly 
developed, complex in structure, with a black, filiform spine, curved in a circular form, and 
