430 ARACHNIDA CHERNETIDEA CHAP. 



Order VI. Chernetidea. 



(CHERNETES, PSEUDOSCORPIONES.) 



Tracheate Arachnids, with the abdomen united to the cephalo- 

 thorax by its whole breadth. Eyeless, or with two or four simple 

 eyes placed laterally. Abdomen segmented, with four stigmata. 

 Chelicerae chelate, bearing the openings of the spinning organs. 

 Pedipalpi large, six -jointed, and chelate. Sternum absent or 

 rudimentary. 



The Chernetidea or " False-scorpions " constitute the most 

 compact and natural order of the Arachnida. There are no 

 extreme variations within the group as at present known, while 

 all its members differ so markedly from those of other Arach- 

 nidan orders that their true affinities are by no means easy to 

 determine. 



The superficial resemblance to Scorpions which has won these 

 animals their popular name is almost entirely due to the com- 

 parative size and shape of their pedipalpi, but it is probable that 

 they are structurally much more closely allied to the Solifugae. 



Chernetidea are not creatures which obtrude themselves on 

 the general notice, and it is highly probable that many readers 

 have never seen a living specimen. This is largely due to their 

 minute size. Garypus littoralis, a Corsican species, nearly a 

 quarter of an inch in length of body, is a veritable giant of the 

 tribe, while no British species boasts a length of more than one- 

 sixth of an inch. 



Moreover, their habits are retiring. They are to be sought for 

 under stones, under the bark of trees, and among moss and debris. 

 One species, probably cosmopolitan, certainly lives habitually in 

 houses, and is occasionally noticed and recognised as the " book- 

 scorpion," and one or two other species sometimes make themselves 

 conspicuous by the remarkable habit of seizing hold of the legs 

 of flies and being carried about with them in their flight. With 

 these exceptions, the Chernetidea are not likely to be seen unless 

 specially sought for, or unless casually met with in the search for 

 small beetles or other creatures of similar habitat. Nevertheless 

 they are very widely distributed, and though more numerous 

 in hot countries, are yet to be found in quite cold regions. 



Though comparatively little attention has been paid to them 



