74 



Alexander Petmukevitch, 



the third abdominal segment, and a single stigma on the fourth ab- 

 dominal segment in some species. Genital opening, protected by 



two opercula, on the first ab- 

 dominal segment. Oviparous. 

 The recent Solifugids lead a 

 nocturnal life, feeding on insects. 

 They inhabit hot countries and 

 are preeminently desert forms, 

 although some species are found 

 in tropical rain regions. Until 

 now no representative of this 

 order has been found in any 

 of the geological periods. The 

 recent Solifugae are divided 

 into three families, but the 

 poor preservation of the only 

 Palaeozoic specimen prevents 

 me from placing it in any of 

 them. 



Protosolpuga n. gen 

 Three posterior thoracic seg- 

 ments free. Chelicera chelate, 

 powerful. Pedipalpi pediform, 

 heavy. Second pair of legs 

 considerably thinner than the 

 others. Abdomen apparently composed of seven segments only. 

 Genotype P. carhonaria n. sp. 



Fig- ay- 

 Figure ^g. — Ammotrecha ciibae (H. 

 Lucas), a recent solifugid. (From 

 Putnam, The Solifugidae of America, 

 1883). 



Protosolpuga carbonaria n. sp. 

 Plate VI, fig. 32 ; text fig. 40. 



The type and only specimen of this interesting arachnid is in the 

 Peabody Museum, No. 155. Unfortunately it is in a very poor state 

 of preservation, the details being exceedingly difficult to see. The 

 lines separating the segments of the thorax and abdomen are very 

 faint. The obverse is fairly well discernible, but the reverse totally 

 useless, since the ventral surface was evidently softer and shows 

 superimposed over it the structures of the dorsal surface. 



Total length with chelicera 24.0 mm. ; abdomen 12 mm. long. 

 Chelicera heavy, chelate, their ends somewhat curved ; a row of small 

 punctuated depressions along their edge. The head much wider than 



