60
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Such notes and comment as seem necessary on the more
noteworthy species are now appended.
Bathyphantes flavipes Bl.
This is the Linyphia flavipes of Blackwall and the Bathyphantes
pullatus of Cambridge whom recent authors have followed.
Scaptophorus insignis Bl. (Linyphia, Cb., 1900).
Floronia frenata Wid. (F. bucculenta, Cb., 1900).
Both of these species are more or less hygrophilous, so I was sur-
prised to find immature examples swarming on the dry upstanding
withered bracken in early spring. Later, only a few adults were found
on the fresh green fronds.
Scotargus distinctus Sim. (Gongylidium, Cb., 1900).
Much more frequent than in Northumberland where its upward
range ceases about 300 feet above sea level.
Walckenaeria nodosa Cb.
Among damp leaves in Pelgate Wood; the first time I have seen
it below 1,000 feet, where it haunts the fringes of swamps.
Prosopotheca corniculans Cb.
Two females from ground siftings in Pelgate Wood. Widespread
in western Europe from Spain to Westphalia, but this is the first British
record. Easily recognised by the greyish-brown caput.
Theridium familiare Cb.
Taken in 1929 on the outer walls of Hollytrees, Colchester, mostly
under the window-sills. Accidentally omitted from my 1933 list.
Enoplognatha mandibularis Lucas.
Both sexes in Pelgate Wood ; typical mandibularis Lucas (Sim.),
not nigrocincta. See figure of male palp.
Epeira dioidia Wk.
A handsome spider wearing a dark cloak bespangled with jewels.
It occurred freely in all stages of development. Koch's genus Zilla has
been revived in Simon's name for this species, but I see no adequate
reason for the segregation. 
Epeira quadrata Clk.
A fine colony on a neglected lawn at the house called Forres. The
grass was stunted, but Plantago lanceolata flourished exceedingly. The
female spider spun together two or three flower heads and under their
shelter built her nursery : a wonderful example of what some people
call animal intelligence, and their delight therein should be increased
when I add that on my native Northumbrian moors the same spider
finds the single head of an upright Juncus a perfectly adequate building
site. Besides, the Forres spiders were of one mind in the matter ; they
worked on an agreed plan, and had decreed that no private individual
might use her own "little grey cells" to evolve a rival plan !
An amazing thing about these spiders was the unusually wide range
of colour—from creamy white and the varying shades of Blackwall's
figure to the richest dark chocolate—with even a considerable variation
of the white spots and patches forming the characteristic pattern of the
dorsum.
Epeira bituberculata Wk.
Recorded from Burnham Beeches, under the name of E. dromedaria,
by Dr. Jackson ; so this is the second British locality for it. Since
1935 I have found it pretty freely wherever there was a suitable habitat,