SPIDERS amongst shrubs in the open garden. This species makes no tent-like retreat, but sits close to the one or more pale rounded egg-sacs usually spun up against a beam or window-sill. Known also as Theridim varians. 22 1. Steatoda dentuuhta, Walckenaer. Warrington (L. G.) ; Duddon Vale ; Southport (A.R.J.). Also a very small and abundant species, occurring on the outside of windows and outhouses and also on walls and palings. It makes no tent-like retreat, and the habits are very similar to those of the last species. Known also as Theridion denticulatum. 2 22. Steatoda bimaeulata, Linnaeus. Southport (O. P.-C. and A. R. J.). The males can be recognized by the sharp spur on the coxa of the fourth pair of legs. Known also as Theridion b'tmaculatum and Theridion carolinum, Blackwall. 223. Steatoda palkns, Blackwall. Warrington (L. G., O. P.-C. and A. R. J.). This minute spider, pale yellow in colour, often with a dark or paler dorsal spot on the abdomen, lives beneath the leaves of shrubs and trees — laurel, elm, lime, etc. — where it spins its minute pear-shaped pure white egg-sac, which rests on its larger end and has several small cusps towards the sharp-pointed end. Known also as Theridion fallens. 224. Steatoda tepidariorum, C. L. Koch. Warrington (L. G). 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 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, constructed In the case of T. firmosum with elaborate skill. When prey of any kind fells into the toils, the spider hurries down and with the tarsal comb on the fourth pair of legs commences kicking out from the spinners a silken fluid, often quite moist like treacle, which strikes against and hardens on the victim. In this way very large spiders, beetles, and wood-lice 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 be also 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 amongst the shrubs in the open garden. Known also as Theridion tepidariorum. 225. Pholcomma giihu/n, Westnng. Lancaster( W. F.) ; Southport (A. R. J.). DICTYNID^ The spiders belonging to this family possess three tarsal claws, and the eyes, eight in number, situated in two transverse rows, the laterals being in contact. The cribellum (or extra pair of spinning organs) and the calamistrum (a row of curving bristles on the protarsi of the fourth pair of legs) are present in all members of the family. They construct a tubular retreat with an outer sheet of webbing, which is covered with a flocculent silk made with the cala- mistrum from threads furnished with the cribellum. 226. C ini^o similis, BhckwaW. Warrington (L. G.) ; Southport (O. P.-C. and A.R.J.). A very common species in greenhouses, stables, and other outhouses. The males may often be found wandering about the walls of dwelling-houses after nightfall. Known also as Amaurobius similis. 227. Cintflo fenestralis, Stroem. Warrington (L. G.) ; Southport (O. P.-C. and A.R.J.). A smaller species than the last, and easily dis- tinguished by the characters of the genitalia. It is found, howeVer, almost exclusively in the open country under stones, bark of trees, or the coping stones of walls all over the fell districts, whereas C. similis is almost entirely confined to the neighbour- hood of dwelling-houses and out-buildings. Known also as Amaurobius fenestralis and Cintflo atrox, Black- wall. 228. Cintflo ferox, Walckenaer. Garstang (L. G.) ; Southport (C. W.). A much larger species, shiny black with pale markings, found in cellars and also beneath rocks and stones on the coast, or in crevices of banks in the open country. Known also as Amaurobius ferox. 229. Dictyna arundinacea, Linnaeus. Southport (O. P.-C). A very common species, forming its nest in the rush-heads and grass in marshy places. Known also as Ergatis henigna. 230. Dictyna latens, Fabricius. Southport (O. P.-C. and A. R. J.). A fairly common species, usually found on gorse bushes. 231. Protadia patula, Simon. Kirkby, Rev. J. H. Bloom (O. P.-C). A rare species. CHERNETES CHELIFERID^ Out of twenty species of false-scorpions hitherto recorded as indigenous to Great Britain, only one is recorded from this county. The various species can be found amongst moss and dead leaves, or beneath stones and the bark of trees. They are unmistakable on account of their possession of a pair of forcipated palpi, like those of the true scorpion. These are usually extended wide open when the Arachnid is alarmed while it hastens backwards to take shelter. In spite of this scorpion-like appearance, these little creatures are closely allied to the Mites or Acaridea. 232. Chthonius raft, L. Koch. Duddon Vale. 155
