507 



NOTE ON SOLPUGA FEROX. 



By R. T. Lewis, F.R.M.S. 

 {Bead May 28th, 1912.) 



The fifth order of the Arachnida, the SoHfiigae, consists of three 

 families, of which the Solpugidae is the second. This again is 

 divided into five sub-famihes, the second of which, the Solpuginae, 

 contains two genera, Solpuga and Zeriana, Solpuga comprising 

 about fifty species, all of which are African. In general appear- 

 ance they are formidable-looking creatures varying in length 

 from one to two inches, and in colour from reddish brown to 

 dull grey. They are covered with hairs of several distinct kinds, 

 are very rapid in their movements, and nocturnal in their habits ; 

 they are armed with two pairs of enormously developed chelicerae 

 placed near together side by side, and opening vertically, and 

 they have two large, simple eyes, close together, upon the front 

 part of the cephalothorax. 



The specimen w'hich is the subject of this note was sent to me 

 from Lindley, in the Orange Free State, by one of our members, 

 and together with some allied species from Natal has proved 

 of so much interest as to warrant some description being given 

 to the Quekett Microscopical Club. 



The length of this Solpuga is 1"5 inch measured from the 

 extremity of the chelicerae to the end of the abdomen ; but its 

 resemblance to a spider, which would be at first remarked, dis- 

 a,ppears on closer inspection, inasmuch as the cephalothorax is 

 formed of six segments, the first three being fused together, and 

 the others separate and movable, whilst the abdomen is divided 

 into ten distinct segments formed of dorsal and ventral plates as 

 in insects, and the spinning organs are entirely absent. The 

 powerful chelicerae are two-jointed, very sharp, and smooth at 

 their curved extremities, but irregularly toothed on the edges, 

 which meet together when closed; the basal portion of each is 

 furnished with a row of stiff spines, and the inner surface of the 

 toothed portion is thickly lined with plumed hairs, whilst the 

 whole, except the curved extremities, is closely covered with hairs, 

 some of which are simple and tapering, and others of equal 



JouRN. Q. M. C, Series II. No. 71. 34 



