The Dermosheleton in Richiulei 115 



most nearly related to that of Pedipalpi, and more particularly to the sub-order Uropygi'. 

 In so far, therefore, we agree with Karsch, when he says (c, p. 29) that if this new type 

 were to be forced into one of the accepted now living orders, it would have to be as a 

 suborder of Pedipalpi. But Karsch himself has not supported this opinion by reference 

 to any point of agreement between CryptostemmatoidEe and Pedipalpi, nor does it appear 

 to us that his description very clearly conveys the notion of any such agreement'''. He 

 refers Cr3-ptostemniatoidae, under the name of Poliocherida', to the order of Meridogastra, 

 which otherwise comprises only extinct forms — a view which we shall examine further 

 below. 



B. On the General Structure of the Order. 



1. The Dermoskeleton. 



The integuments are distinguished by extraordinary thickness and hardness ; for instance, 

 in a young specimen of Cryptostemina crassipalpe, i'7 mm. long, the tergites of the abdomen 

 had a thickness of from Oil to 0'19 mm., and the connecting membrane between the third 

 and the fourth tergite measured in one place as much as 0'21 mm. in thickness. In some 

 species the sculpture is rather remarkable, and three of the species possess an extremely 

 characteristic covering of hair. The surface of the body and the legs is in most species 

 wholly, in the others at least partly, covered with granular protuberances, standing in no 

 particular order, but generally not close together. In some of our species each of these 

 granules exhibits at its apex a depression in which a small lenticular prominence is noticeable; 

 in CryptostemTna Karschii and Sjostedtii this arrangement is not quite easy to observe, but 

 it is very plain in G. Afzelii (PI. VIII., fig. 2 c). In Cryptostevmia crassipalpe and pleheium 

 the granules are very conspicuous by their reddish colour, and have a very beautiful and 

 peculiar appearance (PI. VII., figs. 1 1 and 1 u) owing to their surface being adorned with 

 fine grooves, which partially are transverse, partially unite towards the apex of the granule. 



The granules are as a rule interspersed with rather numerous hairs, which in Cryptostemvia 

 crassipalpe and plebeium are developed into very large curved scales, contracted at the base, 

 whilst their upjier convex side exhibits a longitudinal groove, and is covered with a multitude 

 of short fine capillary excrescences. The shape of the.se scales is mostly as represented on 

 PL VII., figs. 1?-, Is, 2e and 2/, but some, particularly on the ventral surface, are almost 

 flat, and transitions between these shapes occur; some might be described as spatulate, with 

 extremely delicate excrescences along the margin. It is possible that these remarkable hairs, 

 which look so much like scales, have some special function, but we are not inclined to venture 

 on a guess as to what it may be. 



^ It will be remembered that Thorell (i, p. 526 sequ.) has in Cryptostemma terminate in a small chela — a point in 



divided Pedipalpi into two sub-orders : Amblypygi (with the which Eicinulei agree with some Pedipalpi (Oxopoei) — but 



family Phrj-noidse) and Uropygi, the latter comprising two Karsch himself says that a small chela terminating the 



tribes : Oxopoei (the family Thelyphonoidse) and Tartarides palps is without an analogue amongst now living Arachnida 



(with the famOy Schizomoidae (Schizonotoidse auct.)). [c, p. 29). 



- It is true that Karsch rightly mentions that the palpi 



15—2 



