( 319') 



sternites, being porteriorly closerl only by a narrow strip of mpnibrane, wbioh, in a 

 lateral view (PI. XVII. fig. 8), appears widest in tlie prothorax. The pleural 

 sclerites are but feebly cliitiiiiseil. Their position is best seen in a lateral view 

 (PI. XVII. fig. 8). The so-called meral sntnre, which separates the anterior 

 or sternal part of the sternite from the posterior or meral part, is plainly visible 

 in all three sternites. The opisternum (f/'Sf) is larger than the epimerura (epm). 

 The latter projects backwards over the membranous posterior marginal part of 

 the sternite. In the meso- and metathorax the ejiiraernra is narrowe<l posteriorly, 

 forming a conical process, which is visible also in a dorsal view (PI. XVI. fig. 1). 

 Between the episternnm, sternum, and coxa tliere lies a triangular sclerite (ti), 

 which was regarded liy Hansen in UeminiPrtis with some donlit as the trociiantine. 

 We believe this identification to be correct. In front of tlie troc'liantine there is 

 another small sclerite in the pro- and mesosternite which, we think, is thi; lateral 

 sclerite, the peristernnm {per), of Verhoetl''s microthorax. It is somewliat globose 

 and wrinkled in the protliorax of Arixenia. Above this plate there is in the 

 prothorax a narrow sclerite extending upwards in front of the pronotum. Tliis 

 is the parasternum.* 



The legs are long and of a characteristic structure. At rest they appear to be 

 held in the position in which tliey are rejiresented in fig. 1 of PI. XVI , lying in 

 our four specimens almost in a plane with the body, the tibiae being directed 

 forwards, scorpion-fashion. Many earwigs hold the legs in a similar position. The 

 mid- and hindlegs of Arixenia, when moved upwards and the tibiae backwards, 

 remain iu this position, so that it is probable that Arixenia walks like an ordinary 

 earwig with the mid- and hindlegs directed back- and sidewards. Except for 

 a slight difference in length the three pairs are identical. The coxae {co) are 

 largei- than in Hemimerus and Forjicula, and are ventrally much longer than 

 dorsally. They bear ventrally before the apical edge a transverse, pale, mem- 

 branaceous groove. The trochanter (tr) is considerably narrower behind than in 

 front. The femora are slightly compressed. They are hollowed out beneath at 

 the apes for a short distance for the reception of the tibiae, which can be laid close 

 along the femora. The tibiae are as long as the femora, but mnch thinner and 

 nearly cylindrical, slightly narrowing towards the base, which is gently curved. 

 The apex of the tibia is dorsally cnt off obliquely and somewhat impressed so as 

 to allow the tarsus to be laid back on the tibia. The tarsus is characteristic. It 

 most nearly resembles of all earwigs that of Tagalina and Apacliyus. The first 

 segment is quite short and curved upwards, its under-snrface («, PI. XVII. fig. G) 

 being clothed with ordinary small bristles, which are absent from two elongate 

 areas. The second segment (ji) is still smaller than the first. It is shorter dorsally 

 than ventrally, as is also the case in the first segment, and the apical surface 

 therefore is slanting, the second and third segments having the appearance of being 

 inserted on the dorsal side of the preceding segment, as in the earwigs. The tips 

 of the first and second segments are pale, soft, and without bristles. The third 

 segment (c) is quite long, subcylindrical, and slightly curved. Its ventral surface 

 is less hairy than that of the first and second segments. The apical edge is 

 marginate, i.e. there runs a groove along the edge, except on the ventral side, 

 so that the edge itself is slightly elevate. Ventrally the edge projects as 

 a small rounded lobe. The claws {an) are slender, and there is the vestige of a 

 pad between them. 



• Jordan, l.v, 



21 



