ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF OPILIONES 



J. C. C. LOMAN. 



As there have been so many iiew animal forms described of 

 late, belonging to the above order, some aruongst them attracting 

 our attentiou bij their unusual coustructiou, it was to be expected 

 that the systematic arrangement of this group would be considerably 

 modified. 



An attempt at obtaining a broader basis for systematic obser- 

 vations will be published shortly. The data provided by comparative 

 anatomy have been utilized as niuch as possible, for there is no 

 doubt that we shall arrive at a better uuderstanding ofthemufcual 

 kindred in that way, than by examining merely the external 

 characters, as has been often done up to the present. x ) 



As the first step in the right direction we hail Sörknsbn's 

 work on the Gonyleptidae, the harvest-men of South-America. 



Proceeding in the same manner I have come to the conclusion 

 that the forms I have examined should be brought under 3 

 Sub-ordines. 2 ) 



In another place 3 ) I have already made mention of this, but 

 without a detailed explanation of the reasons which led to this view. 



Now, Pocock made some remarks, the other day, in consequence 

 of this preliminary communication, which made him arrive at a 



1) and unfortunately not with this order only! 



2) apart from the less known Cyphophthalmi E. S. 



3) Zool. Jahrb Syst. Vol. 16, p. 170. 



