20 THE STUD Y OF INSECTS. 
of six segments, and is without a tail-like appendage; it 
is broadly joined to the cephalothorax. 
The eyes of the Harvestmen are two in number, and 
are situated on a prominent tubercle near the middle of 
the cephalothorax. The mandibles are pincer-like. The 
maxillae are large, and so opposed as to act as jaws; their 
palpi are four-jointed, and are small compared with the palpi 
of the preceding orders; they resemble in form and func¬ 
tion the palpi of insects. The members of this order 
breathe by tracheae, which open by a single pair of spir¬ 
acles, on the lower side of the body at the junction of 
the cephalothorax and abdomen. 
The Harvestmen feed on small insects, especially Aphids, 
and are perfectly harmless. They are said to devour their 
prey, chewing it with their maxillae, and swallowing it, y 
instead of merely sucking out the blood, as do most other £ 
Arachnida. ^ 
Cl 
Although the Harvestmen have stilt-like legs, they do w 
not raise the body much above the ground when they t. 
walk, but carry it quite near their feet, with the middle u 
part of their legs high in the air. They are said to pounce ; 
upon their prey as does a cat upon a mouse, and seize ^ 
it with their palpi as if with hands. 
It is a common practice with children to catch these 
creatures and say to them, “ Grandfather Graybeard, tell 
me where the cows are, or Til kill you.” As the poor 
frightened animal points its legs in all directions in its 
frantic efforts to escape, it usually earns its freedom ; but 
too often it is not without the loss of one or more legs. 
Order Araneida (Ar-a-ne'i-da). 
The Spiders . 
The Spiders differ from other Arachnida in having the 
abdomen unsegmented and joined to the cephalothorax 
by a short, narrow stalk. The cephalothorax is also un- 
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