ON THE NESTS OF PSEUDOSCORPIONES. 93 
7. On the Nests of Pseudoscorpiones: with historical 
notes on the Spinning-Organs and observations on the 
Building and Spinning of the Nests. By H. Watts 
Kew, F.Z:S. 
[ Received January 5, 1914: Read March 3, 1914.] 
INDEX. 
Ethology : Page 
Pseudoscorpiones: moulting-, brood-, and winter-nests. 94, 
Method of building and spinning the nests: Chelifer 
ENO KOLA aN enna aaaen ation Addo sh aauee bare aeeoe pre neebegic a Rime tue a COPD 
Structure : 
The spinning equipment : historical account............... 99 
External spinuning-organs of the chelicerx: 
It 
The False-Scorpions’ ability to spin was denied by some of the 
older writers, e.g. by Frisch (1), and doubted by others, e.g. De 
Théis (4), but it is now known that they construct nests in part 
or wholly of silk from their own bodies. Balzan (15) named a 
species Chelifer nidificator; but the nests are not peculiar to 
particular species or groups. They are known for Chelifer, 
Chewridium, Garypus, Garypinus, Olpiwm, Obisium, and Chtho- 
mius: genera which represent both main divisions of the Order 
—Panctenodactyli and Hemictenodactyli—and the four main 
families—Cheliferidee, Garypide, Obisiidee, and Chthoniide; and 
it is thus probable that these structures are common to all 
Pseudoscorpiones *. 
The purposes for which the nests are made are known—at 
least satisfactory statements on this head exist—and the nests 
themselves, which have often a more or less elaborate covering of 
extraneous matters, have been described with more or less detail 
and accuracy by several writers. When one enquires how they 
are made, however, no answer is forthcoming. The manner in 
which the extraneous matters are collected and arranged is 
unknown; and as regards the spun-tissue, the position of the 
silk-glands and external spinning-organs was long mis-stated ; 
and the subject is still surrounded with uncertainty. With the 
exception of a statement by Menge (6), which has proved to be 
mistaken, no description of the animals’ methods is known; and 
it does not appear that the drawing out of the silk has ever been 
witnessed. 
It is proposed here to give a brief re-statement of the subject, 
and to record some direct observations. 
* The construction of nests is the only use the animals are known to make of 
their spinning. They have been said, by this means, “to envelop the eggs in a 
cocoon ” (17). But no False-Scorpion covers its eggs with silk; and since the eggs 
are not laid, the egg- and brood-pouch remaining attached to the mother, the thing 
is impossible. 
