448 ARACHNIDA -- PHALANGIDEA CHAP. 



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

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

 and Hansen and Sorenseii l 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 ranging 



FIG. 233. i'm-,1^,-0 from 6 mm. to less than 2 mm. in length. 



corsicus, enlarged. QJ.- ^ Q seven genera which have been estab- 



( After Simon.) & . 



lisned, Stylocellus numbers eight species iroin 

 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. J 



(LANIATOKES). 



Sternum long and narrow. Dorsal scutum leaving at least the 

 last three segments free. Openings of odoriferous glands not on 

 prominences. Tin' fourth pair of legs usually long and powerful. 

 One terminal claw on each of the first two 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 piriform or triangular, 

 broadest behind. Last ventral segment of abdomen much the 

 largest. Very narrow sternum. Eye-turret near anterior bonlr/' 

 of cephalothorax. ('l/t'/in'/'m' n.rrow at base. Pedipalpi long and 

 strong. Maxilla i'// pi air* on first pair of legs rudimentary. No 

 xf-it/iitttfit n'x/li/r. 



The only European forms of this family belong to the genus 



T. C. pp. 67-75. - Long sternum (JU^KOS= length ; <TTf)Oos = breast). 



