$Acrosoma mitrata.$--This is a smaller species than _rugosa_ or _spinea_. The abdomen does not extend as far backward as in the other species, but comes farther forward so as to cover half the cephalothorax (fig. 438). The abdomen is truncated behind, with two pairs of pointed processes at the corners, one pair below the other. In front, the abdomen is a little narrowed over the thorax. The legs and cephalothorax are brown, as in the other species. The abdomen is light yellow, darker behind, with two or three pairs of black spots along the middle and five or six dark elongated spots along the sides. The under side is black mixed with yellow spots, as in the other species. Common as far north as Connecticut. [Illustration: FIG. 439. Acrosoma rugosa, enlarged four times.] $Acrosoma rugosa.$--This has five pairs of spines on the abdomen, three pairs in the same places as those of _spinea_ and the other two pairs behind and under the last of the three. All the humps and spines are about the same size. The cephalothorax and legs resemble those of _spinea_, but the legs are shorter. The colors are white, yellow, and brown in spots and marks like those of _spinea_, some individuals being almost white, and others as nearly black. The males have a long slender abdomen without humps or spines. This is a common spider as far north as Connecticut, where it is occasionally found. [Illustration: FIGS. 440, 441, 442. Acrosoma spinea.--440, female enlarged four times. 441, male enlarged four times. 442, young less than half grown.] $Acrosoma spinea.$--This spider is distinguished from all the common species by the shape of its abdomen, which is narrow in front and has two long spreading points behind (fig. 440). There is a pair of smaller spines on the front of the abdomen and another near the middle of each side. The middle of the abdomen is white or bright yellow. The spines are black at the points and bright red at the base. There are several black spots on the back, and gray marks at the sides. The under side of the abdomen is darker than it is above and marked with black and yellow spots. The cephalothorax and legs are light brown, the thorax with lighter edges. The young have the abdomen longer, with the posterior spines short and blunt. The third and fourth legs are whitish, with dark longitudinal stripes. The males are smaller than the females and resemble the young. The abdomen is a little widened behind and has in place of the spines three pairs of low bumps. The front legs are dark, and the hinder legs light, as in the young. The web (fig. 437) has a hole in the middle, across which the spider hangs. [Illustration: FIGS. 443, 444, 445. Meta menardi, enlarged four times.--443, 444, half-grown young. 445, back of adult female.]