26 



poiiion ol' tlu- maxillae; the huniiin inCeiior is much more distinct than when seen 

 from the upper side (PI. I, fig. 1 g, li). 



The maxiUae of at least Ch. Kui/i L. K. are below provided with the usual 

 three or four "fissures" just behind the articular cavity of the trochanter and near 

 to the outer margin, but I was not able to find the circular "lyriforni fissures" so 

 well developed in tlie Obisiidae Hans. (cf. below). 



II. Obisium muscorum Leach. (PI. I, fig. 3 a and fig. 3 b). 



The labrum is very similar to that of Chlhoniiis C. K., but shorter and broader. 

 Only one author H. J. Hansen has given a thorough description of this organ ; but 

 as this is given in the Danish lan'guage and in the popular work "Zoologica Danica" 

 (7. p. 103), which is not within easy reach, I think that a translation of his text 

 and a reproduction of one of his figures (tab. VII, ß f ) will be of value, especially 

 when the good quality of this author's representation is taken into consideration; 

 in the following quotation references are made to fig. 3 a (PI. I) not to Hansen's 

 figure 6 e, and his figure 6 f is identical to fig. 3 b (PI. I). 



"In the front part of the céphalothorax at the top between the root of the 

 antennae a small chilinous plate, pointing downwards, is situated, which as in 

 the harvestmen is most naturally regarded as a clypeus [PI. I, fig. 3 a-b, p]\ it is 

 moderately arched, rounded above, but below with a distinct dee]) notch in the 

 middle. Beneath this plate a big organ, which probably ought to be regarded as 

 a transformed labrum, is found [fig. 3 a-b, b]. As seen from the front it is twice 

 as long as the clypeus, as broad, and continued as a large triangle into the 

 above mentioned notch or incision; its lower part is short, moderately pointed and 

 rounded, and the whole labrum is also, to a considerable degree, comjjressed from 

 the one side to the other. In lateral view [Fig. 3 b, b] it forms an angle with the 

 clypeus, so that it is directed moderately downwards, but also and in a consider- 

 able degree forwards; the labrum is at the base two thirds as broad as it is long; 

 its front (upper) margin is almost straight, its hinder (lower) margin, which from 

 the base to almost half its length is gradually, but not very much curved outwards 

 and beyond turned suddenly in such a manner, that a prominent, rounded process 

 arises (e); afterwards it turns again sharply and goes to the rounded summit in a 

 direction (juite converging with the dorsal margin. At the base near to the upper 

 margin we find a tiny chitinous ridge (c), which is connected with the above 

 described maxillar lobe. The first curved portion of the lower margin is delicately 

 and densely serrated and forms in reality the one side of the mouth; this, which 

 is placed at the ventral surface of the labrum, is shaped like a long narrow 

 isosceles triangle, the vertex of which is placed in the above mentioned jirominent 

 small process (e) and the short bottom of which is at the base of the labrum. 

 This orifice is closed by a plate of similar shape, and this plate which acts as a 

 kind of labium (</), but is situated in an other position to that of the harvestmen 



