Foundation of Richudcl as a separate Order 137 



the legs amongst themselves and in proportion to the body, etc. From our investigation 

 of the structure of this type, the results of which we have given in the preceding pages, 

 we are able to assert, with far more assurance than Karsch (c), that the classification of 

 Cryptostemmatoida? amongst Opiliones is not tenable. The only points of agreement between 

 Ci'3"ptostemmatoida3 and Opiliones of any weight are these two, that the number of abdominal 

 segments is nearly the same, and that the walking limbs in both possess both patella and tibia 

 — a character which is well-known to occur in several other orders. That Cryptostemmatoidse 

 agree with Opiliones in having tracheae (not "lungs") is, in ovir estimation, not a point which 

 brings them together systematically, because we consider that the trachea; of these two 

 divisions belong to different types, as we have explained above (p. 133). The fact that 

 CryptostemmatoidiB possess a cucullus constitutes to a certain degree a similarity between 

 that family and a single family of Opilione.?, namely Troguloidse ; and in estimating the 

 importance of this fact it should be borne in mind that the genus Anelasmocephalus does 

 not possess the prolongations of the ocular protuberance which occur in the other Troguloidae. 



It cannot be denied that our account of the anatomy of Cryptostemmatoidse discloses 

 considerable agreement in .several respects with the order Pedipalpi, particularly with the 

 sub-order Uropygi, and as the difference — especially in the structure of the mouth — between 

 the latter and the other sub-order of Pedipalpi, viz. Amblypygi, is not inconsiderable, no 

 objection could be raised against placing Cryptostemmatoidfe amongst Pedipalpi, founded 

 merely on the fact that the uniformity of the order of Pedipalpi would thereby be disturbed. 

 But we must maintain that some of the considerations which militate against such a course 

 are too strong to be disregarded. We would particularly insist on the following points. 



1". The abdomen consists in Pedipalpi of 12 segments whilst in Cryptostemmatoidae 

 there are only 9 ; nor would it in our opinion essentially alter the matter even if later 

 investigation should prove the existence of a further, anterior segment, either in the adult 

 or the embryo of the Cryptostemmatoidae. It is true that in the first portion of this ^Japer 

 we have succeeded in explaining and accounting for the apparently great difference which 

 exists between the different divisions of Opiliones in respect of the number of abdominal 

 segments, by showing which tergites or, particularly, sternites are absent where the number is 

 reduced. But we are able to state with certainty that such an explanation will in the future 

 be impos.sible in the case of Pedipalpi and Cryptostemmatoidae, because in both these groups 

 the tergites and sternites of each segment correspond to each other as regards their position 

 in such a manner that it is evident that no tergite is present without its corresponding 

 sternite or vice versa. We note that the coalescence of the second and third tergites in 

 Cryptostemmatoidse does not make any difference in this re.spect, and besides that we have 

 had enough young specimens of Cryptostemmatoidae at our disposal to know that there is 

 no question of any coalescences of entire segments. 



2". The remarkable and peculiar development of the metatarsus and the tarsus in the 

 males of Cryptostemmatoid*, which indicates a peculiar form of copulation. 



3". The fact that in Cryptostemmatoidae the spiracles are placed on the cephalothorax, 

 whilst they are placed on the abdomen in Pedipalpi. 



4°. In Crj'ptostemmatoidae the first pair of legs are developed for walking whilst in 

 Pedipalpi they serve as organs of touch. 



S. 18 



