Kew : Lincolnshire Pseudoscorpions. 



209 



thus to the mouth. It is probable that the greater part of the 

 food of most Pseudoscorpions consists of small fry of this kind ; 

 but it is certain that some sorts, more especially Chernes, occa- 

 sionally or habitually attack larger creatures. Mr. Blomefield, 

 as long- agr> as 1846, appears to have had no doubt on this 

 point, for he remarks of Cherries that their habitat appears to be 

 under bark, 1 whence they probably spring out on their unwary 

 prey [flies] basking near.' According to Stecker, indeed, Chernes 

 sponges on flies and earwigs, Chelifer on bugs, and Chthonius 

 on woodlice, etc.* Dr. George informs me that he once saw 

 a Pseudoscorpion at Kirton-in-Lindsey seize a fly, first with one 

 pincer, then with the other, then with the mouth, and carry it 

 about like a cat with a mouse. This note was made in 1879, 

 and Dr. George has now no clear recollection concerning the 

 fly, which was probably somewhat small. The observation is 

 of interest, however, suggesting as it does that it is mainly 

 a question of size whether the attacked insect will be at once 

 overcome or whether it will lift the little assailant from its feet. 

 It is difficult to understand why Chernes, etc., to which pre- 

 sumably small prey are generally accessible, should make bold 

 to attack large creatures. The house-fly in this connection is 

 sufficiently gigantic, while such creatures as Ctenophora pectini- 

 cornis and Phalangium opilio are relatively enormous. It may 

 be remarked, however, that while Chthonius possesses four eyes, 

 and Chelifer, Roncns, etc. two, Chernes is blind ; and it may be 

 that it is unable accurately to estimate the size of the animals 

 whose leg-s it seizes. It is true that the encumbered creatures 

 usually appear uninjured ; but this, perhaps, is because the 

 Arachnids have not had an opportunity of pressing the attack ; 

 and it is improbable, I think, that the hosts generally escape 

 injury or even survive. We have already quoted the case in 

 which the fly was weakly and the Chelifer strong and active, the 

 two ultimately falling into a wine-glass. The fly from which 

 Mr. Blomefield took four Chernes was ' so fettered in its move- 

 ments by the grasping hold of so many aggressors at once, as 

 hardly to be able to crawl ' ; and Mr. Stainton, in 1865, remarked 

 that house-flies were powerless to get rid of Chelifers, and that 

 these Arachnids, according to his experience, did not quit the 

 flies until the latter died. Dr. Lukis, moreover, has informed 

 us of having seen ' Chelifer citnicoidcs ' dragging by the legs 



* A. Stecker, Sitzungsberiehte der k. Akademie dor Wissenschai'ten 

 (Wien), LXXII. (1875), p. 517. 



1901 July j. 0 



