BRITISH SPECIES OP FALSE-SCORPIONS. 205 



be found (probably in most districts) fairly abundant. Some are 

 pretty active in their movements, running backwards and sideways 

 as well as forwards; and with their outstretched, formidable- 

 looking, but very innocuous, forcipated palpi, present a highly 

 threatening appearance. Others seem only to run backwards and 

 sideways. For the most part, however, they are rather dull and 

 sluggish. 



The known British species are 20 in number (belonging to 

 six genera), and of these I have met with 14 species in Dorsetshire. 

 The known European species are about 46, comprised in nine 

 genera (Sim. Ar. Fr. torn, vii., p. 10). I feel no doubt but that 

 the number at present recorded as British might be soon 

 considerably added to, if entomologists would pay a little attention 

 to this group, especially along our sea-coasts. 



"With regard to the collecting and preserving of the Chernetidea, 

 there need not be much said. They do not offer any special 

 attraction to collectois, who merely want something pretty to look 

 at, like butterflies and moths ; but they are certainly singular 

 looking creatures and easily captured, and may be preserved in a 

 dry state and set out without difficulty on card like those I have 

 exhibited, or (which is better for the purpose of the easier 

 determination of the species, and scientific examination in general) 

 they may be bottled in spirit of wine and placed in glass test tubes 

 as we preserve spiders. 



I will only now detain you with a few general remarks on 

 the classification of the Chernetidea, and on the works that 

 have been written upon them. The remainder of my paper will 

 then be more technical, and, of course, chiefly of interest to the 

 specialist. 



With .regard to the sub-division of this order it is not surprising 

 that, in a group so homogeneous as the present, only one family can 

 be clearly characterized in it, and in fact the characters of this 

 family are simply the characters of the order. Some previous 

 writers have given chief weight in characterizing their sub-divisions, 

 to the presence, absence, or number when present, of the eyes ; 



