412 Atjgusta Kucker, 



are orgaiis for seizing, since they liave not been supplemented by 

 the pedipalps whicli function in tbis capacity for the other Orders 

 of tbe Aracbinida. We niaj" say tbat tbe chelicera in Koenenia re- 

 presents the primative type of tbat organ as found in tbe Solimgida\ 

 for according- to Pocock tbe definitely marked off area in the GaJeo- 

 didac represents tbe rudiment of tbe proximal Joint, whicb was 

 present on tbe cbelicerae of tbe ancestral form. Tbese two distal 

 joints in Koenenia are more like tbe corresponding appendages in 

 Galeodes tban in any other arachnid. In regard to tbe metamerism 

 of Koenenia a study of tbe liviiig animal leads one to claim for it 

 a Position nearer to tbe GaJeodidac tban to any otber order of the 

 Arachnida. Mr. Böener in bis most interesting paper on Koenenia ^) 

 advances tbe theory tbat tbe tborax possesses tbree segments instead 

 of two as was beretofore believed. He Claims for the tborax the 

 Segment whicb carries tbe second pair of legs together with the 

 Segments tbat carry the two remaining pairs of legs. A nnmber of 

 times I have followed with tbe use of tbe microscope one of tbese 

 little animals rnnning along tbe edge of a piece of filter paper with 

 its side turned toward me. Whenever tbis aspect of the living 

 animal was presented tbe true segmented condition of tbe tborax 

 was most evident. I sncceeded in getting a sketch of one wiiich 

 became perfectly quiet in tbis position of tbe tboi-ax and in the 

 Position, of whicb I have already spoken, wiiere the abdomen is 

 elevated so tbat its long axis is almost at right angles to tbe surface 

 on whicb tbe legs rest. In tbis instance a fall side view of the 

 entire animal is not obtained, for tbe bead is sligbtly tnrned so tbat 

 a tbree quarters view of it appears. One could bardlj'^ believe fi'om 

 seeing tbe dead specimens tbat the living animal could assume such 

 an appearance yet I have seen tbis a number of times and have called 

 Dr. Wheeler's attention to tbis most convincing point in regard to 

 the living Koenenia. 



Not only does the thoracic region but also the bead become clearer 

 in studying the living animal. The true shape of the bead of tbis 

 delicate little creature is lost with the use of alcohol thougb the alcohol 

 may be rather weak (not above 70 ^1^^,). Tbe beak of the thin carapace 

 has its sides puffed out through osmotic pressure and the contraction 

 of certain of tbe bead muscles so tbat its edge presents a curve 

 instead of an angle. The anterior sensory bairs in their natural 



1) Zur äussern Morphologie von Koenenia mirabilis Grassi ,. io • 

 Zool. Anz., Sept. 1901. 



