90 



Guide to AracJinida. 



Table-case 

 No. 21. 



The Amljlypygi were represented in the Carhoniferous period 

 hy the genus Graeo2)lwnus. At the present time they are confined 

 to the warmer parts of Africa, Asia and America, the largest 

 species, which belong to the genera Damon and Heterophrynus, 

 being met with in the tropical forests of West Africa and Brazil. 

 By the flatness of the body and by the lateral projection of the legs, 

 they are admirably fitted for living under stones and the loosened 

 bark of fallen trees or in the crevices of rocks. The Amblypygi of 

 the section Charontinae live in caverns. The feeding and breeding 

 habits of the Pedipalps of this sub-order are similar to those of the 

 Whip-scorpions. 



There is a single family Tarantulidae, with ten genera, none 

 of which are very numerous in species. 



Order 3. — Palpigradi, 



A carapace, which is divided into three segments (the large 

 anterior one of which represents the terga of the first four somites), 

 covers the cephalothorax (prosoma) in the 

 Palpigradi. The appendages of the first pair 

 are large, chelate and three-jointed ; those 

 of the second slender, like the remaining pairs, 

 and armed with three claws. A narrow waist 

 separates the cephalothorax and abdomen 

 (opisthosoma) from one another. There are 

 ten abdominal somites, which are not divided 

 into dorsal and ventral plates, and the last 

 three of them are narrowed to form a flexible 

 support for the long many-jointed post-anal 

 flagellum. Eespiratory organs are absent. 



These interesting Arachnids were first dis- 

 covered by Professor Grassi, who described 

 and figured an Italian species in the year 

 1885. They are minute creatures, usually 

 measuring less than two millimetres, or 

 barely one-twelfth of an inch in length. All 

 the known species belong to the genus Kocncnia, which has been 

 discovered in South Europe, Tunis, Siam, Texas, Chile and 

 Paraguay. They are blind, practically colourless animals, living 

 in damp earth or under moist leaves, under stones, or in caves. 



Several drawings of Kocncnia niirahilis are on view in Table- 

 case 21. 



Fig. 59. 



Kocnenia viirabi lis 

 (maguified). 



