EPEIRA 
353 
Epeira celata. PI. XXVI, fig. 254. 
Epeira celata, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 668. 
_ — Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. x, p. 187. 
Length of the female, ^ths of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, &ths, breadth, Jth; 
breadth of the abdomen, Jth; length of an anterior leg, §rds; length of a leg of the third 
pair, ^ths. 
The abdomen is oviform, hairy, convex above, and projects over the base of the cephalo- 
thorax; it is mottled with black and brown, and has an obscure, yellowish, curved line on 
each side of the anterior region of the upper part, and a broad, yellow band extending along 
the middle; this band, which comprises a fine, longitudinal, ramified line of a darker hue, is 
narrowest at its anterior extremity, near which a short, yellow line crosses it at right angles; 
on each side of the middle of the brownish-black under part there is a longitudinal, yellow 
line; and the colour of the branchial opercula is pale-brown. The cephalo-thorax is convex, 
glossy, compressed before, truncated in front, and rounded on the sides, which are marked 
with slight furrows converging towards a large indentation in the medial line; its colour is 
pale-brown, with black margins, a few transverse, black streaks on the sides, and a band of 
the same hue extending along the middle, which increases in breadth as it approaches the 
eyes, where it comprises several pale-brown spots. The four inteimediate eyes neaily loim 
a square; the two anterior ones are seated on a slight prominence, and those of each lateral 
pair are placed obliquely on a small tubercle, and are almost in contact. The falces are 
powerful, conical, convex near the base, in front, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and 
inclined towards the sternum; their colour is very dark-brown tinged with red. Ihe 
maxilke are straight, enlarged and rounded at the extremity, and of a dark reddish-brown 
hue. The lip is semicircular and of a brownish-black colour, having a faint tinge of led at 
the apex, which is prominent. The sternum is heart-shaped, with eminences on the sides, 
opposite to the legs, and has a brownish-black tint. The legs are long, provided with hairs 
and erect, black spines, and of a yellowish-brown hue, with black spots and annuli; each 
tarsus is terminated by three claws of the usual structure, and below them there are several 
smaller ones. The palpi resemble the legs in colour, and have a curved, pectinated claw at 
their extremity. 
The male is smaller than the female, but it resembles her in colour. The cubital and 
radial joints of its palpi are short, and the latter, which is the stronger, has a small pointed 
apophysis at its extremity, in front; the digital joint consists ot three parts, one, which 
projects boldly in front, is curved, glossy, transversely striated above, and has a thin 
membrane connected with it; another, united to the base of the curved part on the outei 
side, is slender and hairy ; and the third, which is much the largest, is somewhat oval, con¬ 
tracted at its base, convex and hairy externally, and concave within ; all are connected with 
the palpal organs, which are moderately developed, not very complicated in structure, and 
