WHIP-SCORPIONS AND OTHERS 127 



Such pieces are masticated by combined vertical and longitudinal 

 movements of these appendages which rub it against the gnatho- 

 bases of the pedipalps. 



Unlike Phrynichus ceylonicus^ Charinides bengalensis captures its 

 prey between the two second appendages as the terminal claw of 

 the palp cannot be closed against the spines at the end of the tibia. 

 The capture is extremely sudden and can only be observed with 

 difficulty. When drinking, drops of water are conveyed by the 

 palps to the chelicerae, or these organs may be inserted directly 

 into the water which is taken up with movements like those em- 

 ployed in mastication. 



The appendages are often cleaned by the chelicerae as in false- 

 scorpions and great care is taken to keep their tips free from dirt. 

 In the case of the pedipalps this may be correlated with the presence 

 on the terminal segments of an elaborate system of spines, clubbed 

 hairs and pits which may perhaps constitute an organ of taste. It is 

 not unlikely too that the pulvillus on the tarsi of C bengalensis and 

 the pad in P. ceylonicus must be kept perfectly clean if they are 

 to be used effectively and tactile organs may be concentrated in 

 this region. That the antenniform first legs should be kept clean 

 is clearly necessary on account of their function as feelers. The 

 extent to which vision is used in seeking prey is uncertain 

 (Graveley, 1915). Phrynichida usually fast for several days after 

 each meal. 



The secondary sex differences of the Phrynichida are extremely 

 small, and in most species there is little to distinguish the males 

 from the females. In Charon grayi, however, which has a wide dis- 

 tribution in eastern Asia, the femur of the pedipalp in the male 

 is longer than those of the second, third and fourth walking legs, 

 while in the female it is shorter. Mating habits have not yet been 

 observed in any of the Phrynichida. During the breeding season, 

 the females of the species carry an egg sac on their abdomens. 

 The number of eggs may vary from 7 to 80 or more, depending on 

 the size of the mother (Takashima, 1950). The eggs are quite 

 large, measuring 2 to 3 mm in diameter and probably in all species 

 are carried by the mother in a capsule attached to the ventral sur- 

 face of her abdomen. Both eggs and embryos are closely packed in 

 this egg sac, the pressure in the confined area giving a subangular 



