$The Three House Epeiras: E. sclopetaria, patagiata,$ and $strix.$--These are the round-web spiders most commonly found about houses, barns, and fences. They are all about the same size, a third of an inch in length, and of various shades of brown, with a distinct scalloped middle stripe on the abdomen. _Sclopetaria_ (fig. 383) has the middle stripe broken at the edges just in front of the middle of each side, so as to form two separate figures, one covering the front and the other the hinder half of the abdomen. In _patagiata_ (fig. 384) and _strix_ the edges of the stripe are usually entire for their whole length. In _strix_ (fig. 385) the middle stripe is narrower than in the others and usually lighter in color. The color of _sclopetaria_ inclines to black, with the light marks yellow. _Patagiata_ is oftener reddish brown, especially in alcohol, and the middle stripe is often dark and uniform in color, less broken by spots and transverse marks than in the others. The front legs of _sclopetaria_ are longer than those of the other species, and the front legs of _strix_ shorter and stouter. The cephalothorax of _strix_ is more plainly marked than the others, with three longitudinal stripes. There is not much difference in the markings of the under side. The epigynum has two hard brown prominences at each side, with a soft finger-like appendage between. In _sclopetaria_ and _strix_ this finger is slender and tapers slightly toward the end. In _patagiata_ it is wide at the end and flattened. In the palpi of the males there is a similar difference. Those of _sclopetaria_ and _strix_ are much alike, but that of _patagiata_ has the forked hook at the base much thicker and more curved. _Patagiata_ is a northern species, common in Canada and found occasionally as far south as Massachusetts and New York. It is also common in the north of Europe. _Sclopetaria_ is also a European species, and is seldom found far from houses. It is more common north, but has been found as far south as Norfolk, Va. _Strix_ is common all over the country, both around houses and in bushes.