XVII 



CLASSIFICATION 



449 



Phalangodes. They all avoid the light, and are usually found in caves. 

 Sirnon x records six species found in France. A North American 

 species, P. armata, is entirely destitute of eyes. 



The family has representatives in Australia 

 and in tropical Africa and Asia. Mermerus, 

 Epidanus, Maracaudus, and Sitalces are some of 

 the exotic genera. 



The other two families of this Sub-order- 

 Fam. 2, Cosmetidae ; Fain. 3, Gonyleptidae- 

 include a large number of species, some of con- 

 siderable size (up to an inch in length of body), 

 found in Central and South America. 



Sub-Order 3. Plagiostethi. 2 



(PALPATORES.) FlG - 234. 



godes temcola, 



First abdominal segment produced foru'i-<l Simon?)' 

 ventrally to the level of the first pair of legs, 

 bringing the mouth and the genital opening very near togelln r. 

 Sternum consequently much reduced. Pedij>f<//>i thin, with 

 terminal claw absent or rudimentary. Terminal claws of tin- 

 legs sing If. 



The Plagiostethi include most of the Harvestmen of temperate 

 regions, the most familiar examples of these creatures belon- 

 ing to the large family 1'halangidae, and being much mure in 

 evidence than the slow-moving and ground-living forms in- 

 cluded in the other families. 



Fam. 1. Phalangiidae. Eye-turret always far rnm>rc<l from 

 anterior border of cephalothorax. Second jiair of Irgs vitl/ -in II- 

 marked maxillary lobes. Legs similar, irillmul I In- fl*- joint 

 called " trochantiii." Midtiarticulate tarsi. ^im/ilr /n-ili /mi /ii , 

 with tarsus much longer fl/n/i til>i<t. ami y^xsv.s-.s/v/// ti-rini iml 

 claw. Some have soft, some coriaceous intei/n /units. 



The Phalangidae fall naturally inio 1 \\o groujis or sub- families, 

 named by Simon SCLKIIOSOMATIVU: and PHALANGIINAE. The 

 first group consists of more or less coriaceous 1'onns li\ ing among 

 moss and herbage. They are not very numerouSj tliere heinu only 

 about twelve known European species di\-iiled among the three 

 genera, Sclerosoma, Mastobunus, and Astr<>biniitx. 



1 A rachnides de France, vii., 1879. " Trausvcr.sc .sternum (ir\e7ioj= 



VOL. IV 2 G 



