396 Mr. R. H. Meade on the British species 0/ Phalangiidae. 



spines. The upper surface of the cephalo thorax is also often 

 furnished with sharp teeth or tubercles ; the size and arrange- 

 ment of which, as well as the size and form of the eye-eminence, 

 form good generic and specific characters. 



The falces each consist of two joints. The basal joint pro- 

 jects forwards and arises from the cephalothorax within a cavity 

 situated beneath the anterior border of the plate. The terminal 

 joint is bent downwards, and terminates in a curved, horny, im- 

 moveable pincer, which is opposed and articulated to another 

 pincer (by some reckoned as a third joint) similarly constructed, 

 but freely moveable. Both pincers are furnished with teeth 

 upon their inner edges. In the males of several species the 

 falces are provided with horns, or processes of various forms and 

 sizes. 



The parts composing the mouth are very complicated; the 

 oral aperture is surrounded by three pairs of lateral bodies 

 which are called maxillse, and is bounded below by a membra- 

 nous lip. There are two long palpi consisting each of five divi- 

 sions; the intermediate joints are sometimes furnished with 

 processes or branches, and the last is armed with a claw. They 

 are connected with the first pair of maxillary bodies. Savigny 

 says *, '' On examining the palpi of the Harvest-men and other 

 Arachnidaus, and comparing them with the legs properly so 

 called, we soon have many proofs that they are themselves only 

 anterior legs more or less altered. The connexion between them 

 is so close, that in the Phalangia the four long anterior legs 

 have their first joint converted into a supplementary maxilla : 

 in fact the Phalangium has six maxillae, of which two only sup- 

 port palpi and four others true legs." He adds further on, " It 

 appears to me certain that the Arachnida possess neither true 

 mandibles nor true maxillse." 



The variations of form in the maxillae are of no value among 

 the Phalangiidse, in afi'ording generic or specific characters, as 

 with the true Spiders. 



The legs, remarkably long and slender in most species, are 

 eight in number, and consist of numerous joints ; the first is 

 named the coxa, and is immoveably fixed to the under part and 

 side of the cephalothorax ; the second is called the trochanter, it 

 is very short and of a roundish or square form ; this is connected 

 with the former by a ball and socket joint, allowing of free 

 motion in every direction. The third joint is generally very 

 long, and frequently rugose and spiny ; it is named the femur. 

 The fourth and fifth are called the first and second joints of the 

 tibia, which is said to be divided; the first of these is much 



* Memoire sur Ics Anim. sans Vertebres, p. 5/. 



