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 SPIDERS 55- Pachygnatha degeerii, Sundevall. Gravesend(F. P. S.); Hurst Wood (T.R.R.S.). Smaller and commoner than the last species. Found at the roots of herbage. 56. Cyclosa conica (Pallas). Hurst Wood (T. R. R. S.). A rare but easily recognized species, having a humped triangular abdomen and sits in the centre of its web on a band of white trans- parent silk, possibly from a distance appearing like the dung of a small bird upon the surrounding foliage. Known also under Epeira. 57. Zi/la X -notata (Clerck). Gravesend (F. P. S.). A very common spider, usually spinning its web on or in the proximity of buildings. The web has a vacant wedge-shaped piece with a single free ray from the centre. Known also as Epeira simi/is, Blackwall. 58. Zilla atrica, C. L. Koch. Hurst Wood, Tunbridge WeUs (T. R. R. S.); Gravesend (F. P. S.). Almost as common as the above, but more usually confined to the foliage of trees and bushes. The males have a very long palpus, while in x -notata these are very short. Known also as Epeira callophylla, Blackwall. 59. Araneus cucurhitinus, Clerck. Tunbridge WeUs (T. R. R. S.). A beautiful green spider with bright red tip at the tail end, rendering it like the bud of a flower. Known also under Epeira. 60. Araneus diadematuSy Clerck. Tunbridge Wells (T. R. R. S.) ; Gravesend (F. P. S.). By far the commonest of our spiders, being known as the ' garden spider,' of large size, usually red-brown with white lozenge-shaped spots, spinning an orb-web. Known also under Epeira. 61. Araneus quadratus, Clerck. Rusthall Common (T. R. R. S.) ; Gravesend (F. P. S.). A common spider in October on most heathy commons where it spins a strong orb- web and makes a tent for concealment under the heather or gorse. Its food consists chiefly of the common honey-bee, and in colour it is warm pink with green and yellow shading with four large white spots on the back of the abdomen. Known also under Epeira. 62. Araneus cornutus, Clerck. Gravesend (F. P. S.). Abundant in the rush-beds, etc., near streams or in swampy places. Known also as Epeira apodisa, Blackwall. 63. Araneus patagiatuSy Clerck. Gravesend (F. P. S.). Very similar to the last species but usually darker in colour and not so universally dis- tributed about the country. Known also under Epeira. 64. Araneus sclopetarius^ Clerck. Gravesend (F. P. S.). A much larger and more darkly marked species than either of the two last and found on the margins of streams, in the angles of boathouses, or on riverside palings. Known also as Epeira sericata, Blackwall. 65. Araneus umbraticus, Clerck. Tunbridge Wells (T R. R. S.). A large species, very like the last in general appearance but much more flattened, for it lives under the bark of trees and posts, spin- ning a strong orb-web and venturing out of its lurking place only at nightfall. Known also under Epeira. 66. Araneus gibbosus, Walckenaer. Seven oaks. A rare species, taken by beating lichen- covered bushes and trees, and recognized by the two angular tubercles on the shoulders of the abdomen. Known also as Epeira arbus- torum and E. bicornis. 67. Araneus triguttatus, Fabricius. Hurst Wood (T. R. R. S.). Not uncommon on iron palings, where the rust-red patch on the forepart of the abdomen resembles a spot of iron-rust and thus favours concealment. It can also be beaten from the foliage of trees. Known also as Epeira aga- lena. 68. Araneus signatus, Blackwall. Broadstairs (Walker). The type of this species has been lost, so that is is difficult to determine its identity with any certainty. It is probably only a variety of the last species. Known also under Epeira. 69. Linyphia triangularis (Clerck). Yalding. A very abundant species in autumn, whose sheet-like snares glistening with dewdrops form a conspicuous feature on the hedges and bushes in the early mornings. The mandibles in the male are very long, resembling those in Tttragnatha. 231