Spiders and Their Near Relatives 



the moulting period and during the winter; sometimes earth is 

 mixed with the silk in forming the cocoon. It is believed that 

 the function of the serrula is the manipulation of this silk. Like 

 the cement glands, the silk glands appear to be subject to periodic 

 variations in their development; this is doubtless explained by 

 the fact that they are needed only at certain and rather remote 

 periods. 



The pseudoscorpions live under stones, beneath the bark of 

 trees, in moss, under leaves on the ground, in the nests of bees, 

 of ants, and of Termites, and in the dwellings of man, where 

 they are often found between the leaves of books. In the South 

 they have been beaten from leaves of palmetto. It is believed 

 that they feed chiefly on mites, psocids, and other minute insects. 

 They are often found attached to insects, especially to flies and 

 to beetles. Most writers think that they do not feed on these 

 large insects, but merely use them as means of rapid locomotion; 

 but according to the observations of Berg ('93) the pseudoscor- 

 pions kill the flies and eat them afterward. 



An excellent account of the order with descriptions of the 

 species occurring in France was published by Simon ('79) and 

 later Balzan ('91) gave a new and elaborate classification. There 

 are many other European papers on the order; but I have found 

 these two the most useful. 



Nearly fifty species representing eleven genera have been 

 recorded from the United States; and it is probable that many 

 more species remain to be discovered, as the order has been studied 

 by onlv a few American entomologists. A synopsis of our recorded 

 species was published by Banks C95&); and a list of them by 

 Coolidge ('08). 



Following the classification of Balzan we have in our fauna 

 representatives of three families; these can be separated as 

 follows: 



A. Cephalothorax with a transverse median suture. P. 45. 



CHELIFERIDyt 



AA. Cephalothorax without a transverse suture. 



B. Serrula of the chelicera attached throughout its length 

 to the movable finger. P. 45. Cheliferid/E 



BB. Serrula of the chelicera attached only at the base. 



C. Spinneret of the chelicera long, slender, and trans- 



44 



