L in y p h ia obscura. PI. XVII, fig. 162.
Linyphia obscura, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 665.
—- — Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom . iv, p. 499.
— — Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist,, second series, vol. ix^
p. 19.
Length of the male, ^th of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, s?th, breadth, ^th;
breadth of the abdomen, ^ th ; length of an anterior leg, jth; length of a leg of the third
pair, rath-
The four intermediate eyes form a trapezoid whose anterior side is the shortest, and those
of each lateral pair are seated obliquely on a tubercle, and are contiguous; the posterior eyes
of the trapezoid are much the largest, and the anterior ones are the smallest of the eight.
The cephalo-thorax is convex, glossy, compressed before and rounded on the sides, which are
marked with slight furrows converging towards an indentation in the medial lin e ; the falces
are conical, armed with a few teeth on the inner surface, and inclined towards the sternum,
which is heart-shaped; the maxillae are strong, gibbous underneath, pointed at the extremity,
on the inner side, and encompass the lip, which is semicircular and prominent at the apex.
These parts are of a dark-brown colour, the cephalo-thorax, which is the darkest, being
almost black, and the maxillae are the palest. The legs are long, provided with hairs and
erect spines, and of a yellowish-brown hue, slightly tinged with r ed ; the first pair is the
longest, then the second, and the third pair is the shortest; each tarsus is terminated by three
claws; the two superior ones are curved and pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near
its base. The palpi resemble the legs in colour, with the exception of the digital joint, which
has a dark-brown tint; the cubital and radial joints are short, a long, slender bristle being
connected with the extremity of the former, in front; the digital joint is somewhat oval, with
a projection on the outer side, and a conical, slightly curved, acute process, directed upwards,
at its base; it is convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs,
which are highly developed, and very complicated in structure, having on the outer side of
the upper part a curved, corneous process, bifid at its extremity, an obtuse, glossy protuberance
lower down, and a long, acute spine directed downwards and outwards; they are of a
dark, red-brown colour. The abdomen is oviform, convex above, projecting over the base of
the cephalo-thorax; it is thinly clothed with hairs, glossy, and of a brownish-black hue; and
the colour of the branchial opercula is dark-brown.
Males of this spider, having the palpal organs fully developed, were taken in June, 1836,
on rails at Oakland.
Some individuals have a series of obscure, transverse, slightly curved lines on the upper
part of the abdomen, an oblique spot on each side of its anterior extremity, and a line extending
along each side of a yellowish-white colour. An adult male, captured by Mr. Wintle,
near Gloucester, in 1860, and received from the Rev. O. P. Cambridge in the autumn of the
same year, had its abdomen marked with yellowish-white lines and spots.
L i n y p h i a g r a c i l i s . PI. XVII, fig. 163.
Linyphia gracilis, Blackw., Linn. Trans., vol. xviii, p. 666.
__ . __ Walck., Hist. Nat. des Insect. Apt., tom. iv, p. 499.
_ _ Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. ix,
p. 19..
Length of the male, Ath of an inch ; length of the cephalo-thorax, ith , breadth,
breadth of the abdomen,rU th ; length of an anterior leg, fth ; length of a leg of the thir
pair, rèth.
The cephalo-thorax is convex, glossy, compressed before and rounded on the sides,
which are marked with furrows converging towards an indentation in the medial line. The
falces are moderately powerful, conical, armed with a few teeth on the inner surface, and
inclined towards the sternum, which is heart-shaped, convex, glossy, and provided with some
scattered hairs. The maxillæ are strong, enlarged at the base, where the palpi are inserted,
and slightly inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular, and prominent at the apex, lh e
colour of the cephalo-thorax, sternum, and lip .is brown-black, and that of the falces and
maxillæ brown, faintly tinged with red. The four intermediate eyes form a trapezoid whose
anterior side is the shortest, and those of each lateral pair are seated obliquely on a tubercle,
and are contiguous ; the posterior eyes of the trapezoid are the largest, and the anterior ones
much the smallest of the eight. The legs are long, slender, provided with hairs and erect
spines, and of a pale-brown colour tinged with red; each tarsus is terminated by three claws ;
the two superior ones are curved and pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected near its base.
The palpi are short, and resemble the legs in colour, with the exception of the digital joint,
which is. darker ; the radial joint is much stronger than the cubital ; the digital joint is ova ,
convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising the palpal organs, which are high y
developed, prominent, complicated in structure, with a small, glossy protuberance on the outer
side, near % base, and a fine spipe at the extremity, enveloped in delicate membrane, and
curved into a circular form ; they are of a red-brown colour. The convex sides of the digital
joints are directed towards each other. The abdomen is oviform, convex above, projecting
over the base of the cephalo-thorax ; it is thinly clothed with hairs, glossy, and of a brownish-
black hue ; and the colour of the branchial opercula is dull-brown. Some individuals have a
series of obscure, angular lines of a brownish hue, whose vertices are directed forwardsj
extending along the middle of the upper part of the abdomen.
Mature males of L inyphia gracilis were found on rails near Crumpsall Hall in
November, 1836.