448 ARACHNIDA PHALANGIDEA chap. 



family, Gibocellidae, for its reception. No one else appears to 

 have seen the animal, or any of Stecker's preparations of it, 

 and Hansen and Sorensen ^ adduce grave reasons 

 for believing that it never existed at all. If 

 this species is to be disallowed, the Cyph- 

 ophthalmi all fall into a single family. 



Fam. Sironidae. — These somewhat Mite- 

 like Phalangids are rarely met with, partly, 

 no doubt, because of their retiring habits 

 and small size, the known forms rancrinw 

 Fig. 233. — Paras//Y) from 6 mm. to less than 2 mm. in length. 

 cor^icus, enlarged. q£ |.|-^q yeven genera which have been estab- 



( After Simon.) . ^ 



lished, Stylocellus numbers eight species from 

 Borneo and Sumatra, and Pettalus two species from Ceylon. 

 Ogovia, Miopsalis, and Purcellia have one species each, from 

 South Africa, Further India, and the Cape, respectively. The 

 only European forms are the two species of Siro (France and 

 Austria), and Parasiro corsicus. No species has yet been found 

 in England. 



Sub-Order 2. Mecostethi.- 



(laniatores). 



Sternum long and narrow. Dorsal scutum leaving at least the 

 last three segments free. Openings of odoriferous glands not 07i 

 prominences. The fourth pair of legs usually long and powerful. 

 One terminal claw on each of the first tivo 'pairs of legs ; two on 

 the last two pairs. 



The Mecostethi are essentially tropical forms, though a few 

 representatives are found in the caves of Southern Europe. One 

 family (Phalangodidae) has its headquarters in the hot regions 

 of the Old World, while the other two (Cosmetidae, Gonyleptidae) 

 are confined to Central and South America. 



Fam. 1. Phalangodidae. — Body iririform or triangular, 

 broadest hehind. Last ventral segment of ahdotnen mucli the 

 largest. Very narrow sternum. Eye-turret near anterior border 

 of cephalothorax. Chelicerae narrow at base. Pcdipalpi long and 

 strong. Maxillary jjlates on first pair of legs rudimentary. No 

 stigmata visible. 



The only European forms of this family belong to the genus 

 •* T. C. pp. 67-75. ■ Long sternum (/a-ij/cos = length ; ut^^os^ breast). 



