SPIDERS 92. Erigone atra (Blackwall). Yalding. Known also under Neriene. Often abun- dant on railings. 93. Tho vagans (Blackwall). Hurstwood ; Tunbridge Wells (T. R. R. S.). Rare amongst dead leaves in woods and shrubberies. Known also under Neriene and as N. longimana. 94. Gongylldium rufipes (Sundevall). Gravesend (F. P. S.) ; Tunbridge Wells (T. R. R. S.). Known also under Neriene and as N, mun- da, Blackwall. 95. Gonatium rubens (Blackwall). Gravesend (F. P. S.) ; Hurstwood (T.R.R.S.). Known also under Neriene. 96. Gonatium isaheUinum (C. L. Koch). Yalding. Known also as Neriene rubella, Blackwall. 97. Dicyphus cornuius (Blackwall). Hurstwood (T. R. R. S.). Known also under Neriene. 98. Hypomma bituberculatum (Blackwall). Tunbridge Wells (T. R. R. S.). Known also under Neriene. 99. Stylothorax apicatus (Blackwall). Hurstwood (T. R. R. S.). Known also under Neriene. 100. Kukzymkiellum fmcum (Blackwall). Yalding. Known also under Neriene. lOi. Walckenaeria acuminata, Blackwall. Rusthall (T. R. R. S.). Known also under the name Walckenaera. 102. Diplocephalus latifrons [0.?.-Cz.mhnAgc). Rusthall (T. R. R. S.). Known also under Walckenaera. THERIDIIDiE The members of this family have eight eyes situated very much like those of the Argyo- pida, but the mandibles are usually weak, the maxillae are inclined over the labium, and the posterior legs have a comb of stiff curved serrated spines beneath the tarsi. The web con- sists of a tangle of crossing lines, and the spider often constructs a tent-like retreat wherein the egg-sac is hung up. to the body in the middle of the tangled web. Sometimes, but not often, a few chips of dry leaf fallen into the web may be utilized as a sort of apology for a tent-like retreat, con- structed in the case of T. formomm with such elaborate skill. When prey of any kind falls into the toils the spider hurries down and with the tarsal comb on the fourth pair of legs commences kicking out from the spinners silken fluid, often quite moist like treacle, which strikes against and hardens on the victim. In this way very large spiders, beetles and woodlice are ensnared and converted into food. With a rapid and irritable movement of the forelegs also, small tufts of fine silk are gathered and flung promiscuously over the web. The male, a much smaller spider, may often also be seen hanging near at hand in the web, and the one or more brown pear- shaped egg-sacs also hang in the upper part of the toil. Sometimes these spiders are found outside the houses, but rarely, if ever, amongst the shrubs in the open garden. 105. Theridion varians, Hahn. 103. Theridion formosum (Clerck). Hurstwood (T. R. R. S.). Not uncommon in the open woods amongst the young oak trees where the spiders spin an irregular tangled web close to the trunk, amongst the clusters of small twigs and shoots growing on the stems of the trees. Hanging somewhere in the web can be found a small tent-like domicile made of fragments of dead leaves, lichen and other debris. Within it the spider remains crouched, in close attendance upon her treasured egg-sac, dropping instantly to the ground if the tent- like retreat be handled or the web even touched. The female is about the size of a small pea, very gibbous, or humped on the upper side, orange or black with narrow white curving stripes running from the dorsal apex down the sides. Known also as T. sisyphium, Blackwall. 104. Theridion tepidariorum, C. L. Koch. Yalding; Canterbury. This large species is one of our commonest spiders in conservatories and greenhouses, where the curious triangular-shaped female may be seen hanging with legs closely gathered Tunbridge Wells (T. R. R. S.) ; Canterbur>', Yalding. A very much smaller species, varying con- 30
