44S ARACHNIDA PHALANGIDEA chap. 



family, Gibocellidae, for its reception. No one else appears to 

 have seen the animal, or any of Stecker's preparations of it, 

 and Hansen and Sorensen ^ adduce grave reasons 

 for believing that it never existed at all. If 

 this species is to be disallowed, the Cyph- 

 ophthalmi all fall into a single family. 



Fam. Sironidae. — These somewhat Mite- 

 like Phalangids are rarely met with, partly, 

 no doubt, because of their retiring habits 

 and small size, the known forms ranging- 

 Fig. 23S. — Para siro from 6 mm. to less than 2 mm. in length, 

 f"™''"!;. ^larg'^'i- Of the seven genera which have been estab- 



( After Simon. ) _ o 



lished, Stylocellus numbers eight species from 

 Borneo and Sumatra, and Pettalus two species from Ceylon. 

 Ogovia, Ifiopsalis, and Purcellia have one species each, from 

 South Africa, Further India, and the Cape, respectively. The 

 only European forms are the two species of Siro (France and 

 Austria), and Parasiro corsicus. No species has yet been found 

 in England. 



Sub-Order 2. Mecostethi." 



(laniatores). 



Sternum long and narrow. Dorsal scutum leaving at least the 

 last three segments free. 02Jenings of odoriferous glands not on 

 prominences. The fourth pair of legs usually long and powerful. 

 One terminal clatv on each of the first two pairs of legs ; two on 

 the last two pairs. 



The Mecostethi are essentially tropical forms, though a few 

 representatives are found in the caves of Southern Europe. One 

 family (Phalangodidae) has its headquarters in the hot regions 

 of the Old World, while the other two (Cosmetidae, Gonyleptidae) 

 are confined to Central and South America. 



Fam. 1. Phalangodidae. — Body p)iriform or triangular, 

 h'oadest hehind. Last ventral segment of abdomen much the 

 largest. Very narrow sternum. Eye-turret near anterior border 

 of cephalothorax. Ohelicerae narrow at base. Pedipalpi long and 

 strong. Maxillary plates on first jM-ir of legs rudimentary. No 

 stigmata visible. 



The only European forms of this family belong to the genus 



' T. C. pp. 67-75. ^ Long sternum (^^Kos = length ; (rT^eos = breast). 



