At Cranmore this species is not uncommon. It appears to belong to the genus Neriene,
though an approximation to the Theridia is observable in the form of the maxillm.
Neriene carinata. PI. XIX, fig. 198.
Ceroclus carimtus, Templeton, MS. History of Irish Arachnids.
Length of the female, gth of an inch.
The cephalo-thorax, which is nearly circular, has an elevated ridge in the medial line,
and the sides are depressed till they are almost horizontal; it is of a brown colour, edged
with black, and black lines descend from the middle thoracic point and pass to the origins of
the leg s ; underneath it has a brownish-black hue. The abdomen is ovate, tumid, hairy, and
of a grayish-black colour on the upper part, with numerous waved, silvery lines on its surface;
underneath it is jet-black. The legs are moderately long, taper, provided with hairs and very
fine spines, and are of a brown hue; the first pair is the longest, then the fourth, and the
third pair is the shortest.
This spider occurs in the grove at Cranmore.
Neriene sulcata.
Neriene sulcata, Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol. xiii, p. 184.
— — Blackw., Ibid., second series, vol. ix, p. 271.
Length of the male, 4 th of an in ch ; length of the cephalo-thorax, 4th, breadth, 4th ;
breadth of the abdomen, 4 th; length of an anterior leg, |th; length of a leg of the third
pair, 4th.
The legs are provided with hairs, and are of a red colour, tinged with brown; the first
pair is rather the longest, then the fourth, 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 cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with a small, longitudinal
indentation immediately behind each lateral pair of eyes, and a slight depression in
the medial line; the falces are powerful, conical, convex in front, near the base, divergent at
the extremity, armed with teeth on the inner surface, and inclined towards the sternum,
which is broad and heart-shaped; the maxillae are strong, enlarged where the palpi are
inserted, and inclined towards the lip, which is semicircular and prominent at the apex.
These parts have a brown-black hue, the maxillae, which are the palest, and the falces having
a tinge of red. The anterior eyes of the four intermediate ones forming the trapezoid are
much the smallest of the eight, and those of each lateral pair are contiguous and seated
obliquely on a small tubercle. The palpi resemble the legs in colour; the cubital and radial
joints are short, the latter, which is the stronger, projecting a somewhat pointed apophysis
from its extremity, in front; the digital joint is of an irregular oval form, having a lobe near
the middle of the outer sid e; it is convex and hairy externally, concave within, comprising
the palpal organs, which are highly developed, prominent, complicated in structure, with a
long, black, filiform spine, enveloped in delicate membrane, extending from the upper part
beyond their extremity, and are o f a 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, that of the branchial opercula being yellow.
An adult male of this species, which is nearly allied to the spiders constituting the genus
Wcdckenaera, was discovered on the steps at Oakland in June, 1841; and another specimen
of the same sex was met with on the gravel-walk in front of the house in July, 1852.
Neriene herbigrada. PI. XIX, fig. 199.
Neriene herbigrada, Blackw., Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., second series, vol. xiii,
p. 179
— — Blackw., Ibid., vol. xiv, p. 32.
Length of the female, 4th of an inch; length of the cephalo-thorax, 4th, breadth, 4 nd ;
breadth of the abdomen, 4th ; length of an anterior leg, 4 th ; length of a leg of the third
pair, 4thi
The cephalo-thorax is oval, convex, glossy, with an indentation in the medial line; the
falces are powerful, conical, vertical, divergent at the extremity, and armed with teeth on the
inner surface; the maxillae are enlarged where the palpi are inserted, and inclined towards the
lip, which is semicircular and prominent at the apex; and the sternum is broad and heart-
shaped. These parts have a brown hue; the sternum and the lip are the darkest, and the
falces and maxillae, which are the palest, are faintly tinged with red. The eyes are seated on
black spots; those of each lateral pair are placed obliquely on a small tubercle, and are contiguous,
and the anterior eyes of the four intermediate ones forming the trapezoid, which are
near to each other, are the smallest and darkest of the eight. The legs are provided with
hairs, and have a yellowish-brown hue; the anterior and posterior pairs, which are the longest,
are equal in length, and the third pair is the shortest; each tarsus is terminated by three
claws; the two superior ones are curved and slightly pectinated, and the inferior one is inflected
near its base. The palpi resemble the legs in colour. The abdomen is oviform, hairy,
glossy, convex above, and projects over the base of the cephalo-thorax; it is of a pale-brown
colour, with obscure spots of a deeper shade, the under part being rather the darkest; the sexual
organs have a reddish-brown hue, and their anterior margin is prominent and semicircular.
The colours of the sexes are similar. The male has the humeral joint of its palpi curved