238 



SUBKINGDOM ABTIOULATA. 



residence. This is 



Fig. S89. 



closed with a water-tight trap-door, 

 having an elastic hinge, the outside 

 mimicking the soil around, and held 

 down with the whole force of the 

 spider's claws fastened on the side 

 of the door opposite the hinge. 



ORDER PEDIPALPI. 



fi?'^^^^|fflK^'|fi^S^ G-eneral Characteristics. — The 

 W0m^^^^^^ Pedipalpi (foot-feelers) have large 

 ^^3Kmlim^^^: maxillary palpi and the Jointed ab- 

 domen prolonged sometimes into a 

 tail.* 



Scorpionidae.— The Scorpion has a powerful poison-sting 

 at the end of its tail-like abdomen, which wounds by curving 



Mg. S90. 



Nest of Mygdle. 



Buthus cardlrMnm, Scorpion. \. 



over the back, while the victim is held between the forceps- 

 like feelers. Its wounds are rarely fatal, the antidote being 

 hartshorn. 



ORDER ACARINA. 



General Characteristics. — The Acarina . have the 

 mouth adapted either for sucking or biting. They are of 

 small size, and generally parasitic. 



Acaridae, — The Itch-mite, burrowing in the flesh, multi- 



* The Phalangidae include tlie Harveet-man or " Daddy-long-legs " (not the crane- 

 fly), which iB carnlvorouB, feeding especially upon the Aphidte, and la hence very 

 beneficial. 



