PHALANGES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



13 



cheliceres occupy the same place and perform the same 

 functions as the anterior maxillae or mandibles of Coleop- 

 tera, so that the burden of proof certainly rests very 

 strongly on those who assign them as the homologues of 

 the antennae. If, as stated by Professor Owen, some 

 species of Galeodes have the rudiments of the antennae 

 attached to the cheliceres, it will strengthen the position 

 that the latter are the homologues of the mandibles rather 

 than weaken it. No such rudiments exist in the North 

 American species, Galeodes subulata Say, which is the 

 only one that I have seen specimens of ; but in certain of 

 the Harvest-men, there are two small processes placed 

 superiorly and anteriorly to the mandibles, which must 

 be regarded as the rudiments of the antennas. 



The mandibles or cheliceres in the Phalangidae are two- 

 jointed, the distal, larger article, being vertical and armed 

 with a pair of forceps, one finger of which is fixed, the 

 other movable. 



The ligula is scarcely perceptible in the Phalangeae. 



The second prominent mouth-organs of the rapacious 

 arachnids are those which form 

 the large arm like weapons of 

 the Scorpions. They are the 

 homologues of the maxillae and 

 palpi of the Coleoptera. 

 the Harvest-men they 

 have much more resemblance to 

 the corresponding hexapod or- 

 gans than is general. Their basal- 

 joints, the representative of the 

 maxillae proper, are large, and 

 so opposed as to act as jaws. 

 The palpi are four-jointed, and 

 strictly retain the form and use 

 of palpi. 



Such are the organs, which 

 are most obviously parts of the 

 mouth. Professor Owen sug- 

 gests in his anatomy of the In- 

 vertebrates that the anterior pair of feet are modified 

 labial palpi. This seems to be the most probable view 



their 

 Among 



Phalangitim ventricosum. 



a, troclianter; 6, femora; c, palpus; 

 d. mandibles. 



