208 ARACHNIDES. 



* 



Galeodes, Oliv. — Solpuga, Licht., Fab. 



Two very large chelicerae, with strongly dentated vertical fingers, one 

 superior, fixed, and frequently furnished at its base with a slender, 

 elongated, pointed appendage(l), and the other movable; large pro- 

 jecting palpi in the form of feet or antennae, terminated by a short, 

 vesicular joint, resembling a button without a terminal hookj the two 

 anterior feet of an almost similar figure, equally unarmed, but 

 smaller; the others terminated by a tarsus, the last joint of which is 

 furnished at the end with two little pellets, and two long toes termi- 

 nated <by a hook; five semi-infundibuliform pediculated scales on 

 each posterior leg, arranged in one series along their first jointsj 

 and two eyes closely approximated on an eminence anterior to the 

 first thoracic segment, which represents a large head bearing the 

 two anterior feet, as well as the parts of the mouth. 



Their body is oblong, generally soft, and bristled with long hairs. 

 The last joint of the palpi, according to M. Dufour, contains a'par- 

 ticular organ formed like a disk, of a nacre-white, and which never 

 protrudes unless the animal is irritated. The two anterior feet may 

 be considered as second palpi. The labrufn has the form of a little, 

 strongly compressed, recurved rostrum, pointed and hairy at the end. 

 The ligula is small, shaped like a keel, and is terminated by two 

 divergent, bearded setae, each posted on a little joint. The other 

 pairs of legs are annexed to as many segments. J have perceived a 

 large stigma on each side of the body, between the first and second 

 pair of legs, as well as a slit at the base of the inferior part of the 

 abdomen. The abdomen is oval, and composed of nine annuli. 



It is supposed that the ancients designated these animals by the 

 names of Phalangium, Solifuga, Tetragnatha, Sec. M. Poe disco- 

 vered a species in the environs of Havana,' but the others are pecu- 

 liar to the hot and sandy countries of the eastern continent(2). They 

 run with great celerity^ erect their head when surprised, and show 

 signs of resistance; they are considered venomous(3). 



(.1) I do not think it is peculiar to either sex. 



(2) Our author does not seem aware of the fact that two species of this genus 

 have been discovered by Mr Say near the Rocky Mountains: tliey are, 1. Gal.pal- 

 lipes, Say, Hairy; chelicerae horizontal; fingers arcuated; abdomen sub-depressed, 

 livid. 2. Gal. subulata. Id. Hairy; chelicerae horizontal; thumb nearly rectilinear 

 and destitute of teeth; resembles the palHpes in form, size, and colour, but the 

 superior finger of the chelicerse is unarmed and rectilinear, and the inferior arcu- 

 ated with about two stout teeth. Long's Expedition, H, p. 3. ^Im. Ed. 



(3) Solpuga fatalis, Fab.; Herbst., Monog., Solp. 1, i, Bengal;-— iS". chelicomis. 



