131 

 Genus LXXIX. PHALANGIUM. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Front furnished with two cheliform mandibles, 

 like crab's claws. Eyes four ; two vertical, 

 and two lateral. Abdomen rounded. Legs 

 eight. Tarsi composed of many pieces. 



General Observations. 

 The limbs of the Phalangium retain their 

 vitality in a remarkable degree. They are very 

 easily detached from the body, and the insect, 

 in its endeavour to escape, will often leave one 

 or two of its legs between our fingers. Children, 

 with their usual propensity for mischief, and 

 aware of what is to happen, separate a limb 

 or two from the long-legged harvest spider ; , 

 and laying it down, amuse themselves with ob- 

 serving the convulsive motion of the joints, 

 which continue to act, alternately contracting 

 and expanding the limb for some hours, before 

 the motion entirely ceases. Geoffroy is of opi- 

 nion, that the Phalangium has the power of 

 reproduction \ and, like the crab and the lob- 



