76 Classification of Palpa fores 



We may add with regard to Phalangioida3, that the sub-families Sclerosomatini E. S. and 

 Gagrellini Thor. cannot be maintained. If Phalangioidie are to be distributed into sub-families, 

 only two such can be established, viz. Sclerosomatini nobis, comprising both the groups just 

 mentioned together Avith Leiobunum, while the other, Phalangiini nobis, must comprise all the 

 other genera of the family. The distinguishing characters of these two sub-families will 

 accordingly be given in the consjjectus, after those of Phalangioidae. 



Quite recently Pocock (d) attempted to show that Palpatores ought to be divided into 

 two groups : Eupagosterni, comprising Nemastomidai, Trogulidis and his new family Dicrano- 

 lasmida3, and Apagosterni, comprising Ischj'ropsalidas and Phalangiidse. The incorrectness of 

 this view may, in our opinion, be seen from our diagnoses of the families of Palpatores, in 

 which characterizations we have taken into account a much higher number of structural 

 features than that considered by Pocock. Of course, no significance can be ascribed to the 

 characters which in his opinion are found in sternum, because he has misunderstood that part 

 (compare our note 3 on p. 19), and the same must be said of some characters alleged by 

 him which have long been known to be incorrect. It may also have influenced his con- 

 ception that of Ischyroj^salidoidfe he was only acquainted with the genus Ischyropsalis, the 

 labium of which differs much as to shape aud dimension from those of the other genera of 

 the family. 



All authors, viz. Sorensen (a), Thorell (a), Simon (6), and Sorensen (rf), who in one way 

 or another have expressed the opinion that Ischyropsalidoidae (or Ischyropsalis) are more nearly 

 related to Nemastomatoidae and Troguloidse than to Phalangioidce, have besides clearly shown 

 that of these three types they considered Iscliyropsalis to stand the nearest to Phalangioida?. 

 They arranged the four families in the following order : Phalangioida^, Lschyropsalidoidse, 

 Nemastomatoidaj and Troguloidae — and within the last-named family they placed first those 

 genera which by Simon are referred to his sub-familj' Dicranolasmatini, by Pocock to his 

 family Dicranolasmidai, next those genera referred by Simon to his sub-family Trogulini, by 

 Pocock to his family Trogulidse. We emphasize this fact, intei- alia, because Pocock seems to 

 have overlooked it, as he arranges his families in a not very natural order, viz. Nema- 

 stomidte, Dicrauolasmidae, Trogulidse, Ischyropsalidte aud Phalangiidfe. But to this the following 

 must be added. Excepting the peculiar position of lobi maxillares coxarum II paris in 

 Ischyropsalis already pointed out by Sorensen in his first treatise (a) in 1874, all the 

 differences between Phalangioida; and lschyropsalidoidse mentioned by Pocock in his character- 

 izations of the families are certainly features in which these two families differ from each 

 other, but they are besides features in which the whole famil}' Ischyropsalidoidas agree with 

 Nemastomatoidffi and Troguloidse. It is true that Pocock would still have been able to point 

 out an agreement between Ischyropsalis and Phalangioidse, if he had discovered the diminutive 

 claw on the palpus in Ischyropsalis. But as to this feature all genera of the family lschy- 

 ropsalidoidse do not even agree with each other, the claw being quite absent in a couple of 

 genera, while it is rudimentary in the othens. When all genera of Ischyropsalidoida; are taken 

 into account, it must be said that the family as a whole shows itself more closely related to 

 Nemastomatoidse and Troguloidte than to Phalangioidse. When the separate genera are con- 

 sidered the genus Ischyropsalis must be said to be on the whole less distinct from Phalan- 

 gioidis than is the case with the other genera : but, on the other side, a glance at our 

 characters of the genei-a conveys the conception that as to one character Ischyropsalis itself, 



