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THE SPIDERS OF EPPING FOREST.
respectively. Each palpal coxa is furnished with an
appendage in the form of a well developed plate known
as a Maxilla. The maxilla often appears to be simply
an enlargement of the coxal joint itself, but a transverse
striation is usually evident, indicating the real dis-
tinctness of the two parts. The tibia of the male palpus
is often furnished with one or more processes, known
as Apophyses, and a patellary or femoral apophysis is
occasionally present. In the female the palpus is
more or less pediform, sometimes with and sometimes
without, a terminal claw. In the male, however,
a most curious modification of this organ is observed.
The tarsal joint is as a rule more or less split or
excavated, and connected with it is the external repro-
ductive organization of the spider. The cup-like
depression formed by the excavation of the tarsus is
often termed the Alveolus. The spermal secretory
glands are of an exceedingly simple structure, and their
external opening, which is small and only detected with
difficulty, is situated upon the underside of the abdomen,
some distance in front of its central part. From this
aperture the spermal fluid is absorbed, directly or in-
directly, by means of the palpal organs and thence
injected into the ovaries of the female. To the araneo-
logist the palpi of male spiders are of paramount import-
ance not only as reliable indications of specific identity
but as characters upon which much of our system-
atic classification may with advantage be based. More
detailed descriptions of the palpi will be given when the
limitations of the groups founded upon the variation of
these curious structures claim our consideration. It
should be remembered that statements as to the position
of certain parts of the palpus are made on the under-
standing that the limb is extended horizontally
forward.
These are invariably eight in number, attached to the
sternum, and each consists of seven joints termed
respectively Coxa, Trochanter, Femur, Patella, Tibia,
Metatarsus and Tarsus. The term "Protarsus" has
been suggested as more accurately describing the
position of the joint here termed the metatarsus. Theor-
Legs.