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Show 202 A HAC liN lD.ES. FAMILY II. PEDIPALPI. In the second family of theArachnides Pulmonarire, we find very large pal pi, resembling projecting arms, terminated by a forceps or a claw; didactyle chelicerre, one finger of which is movable; an abdomen composed of very distinct segments without fusi at the extremity; and the sexual organs placed at the base of the abdomen. The whole body is invested with a firm tegument; the thorax consists of a single piece, and exhibits three or two simple eyes, approximated or grouped, near the anterior angles; and near the middle of its anterior extremity, or posteriorly, but in the median line, two others equally simple and approximated. There are four or eight pulmonary sacs. Those which form the genus TARANTUI .. A, Fab., Have their abdomen attached to their thorax by a pedicle, or por· tion of their transverse diameter; it has no pectinated lamin::e at its base, nor sting at its extremity. Their stigmata, four in number are situated near the origin of the venter, and are covet·ed with~ plate. Their chelicerre (mandibles) are simply terminated by a movable hook. Their ligula is elongated, very narrow, and con· cealed. They have but two jaws, which are formed by the first joint of their palpi. They all have eight eyes, of which three, on each side and near the anterior angles, form a triangle; and two near the middle at the anterior margin are placed on a common tubercle or little elevation, one on each side. The palpi are spinous. 'fhe tarsi of the two anterior legs differ from the others, being formed of numerous seta· ceous or filiform joints, and without a terminal nail. They are confined to the hottest portions of Asia and America. Their habits are unknown to us. They now , constitute two subge· nera. PHRYNus, Oliv. Palpi terminating in a claw; the body much flattened; thorax bt·oad, and almost in the form of a crescent; abdomen ecaudate, and PULMO AHlJE. 203 the two anterior tarsi very long ancl slendet·, resembling setaC'.cous .antennre( I)· THELYPIIONus, Lat. The Thelyphoni are distinguished ~rom the preceding subgenus by their shot·ter, thicker pal pi, term mated by a fot·ceps or by two . d fi gers· by their long body with its oval thorax, and the ex-untte n ' · . . . tremt· 1y o f the abdomen furnished wtth an at·t.t culated seta formmg a tail. 'fheir anterior tarsi are short, of a umform appearance, and composed of few articulations(2). The others have their abdomen intimately united to the thorax throughout its entire width, presenting, at its inferior base two movable pectiniform laminre, and terminated by a kno;ted tail armed with a terminal sting. Their stigmata, eight in number, are exposed, and arranged four Ly four along the belly; their chelicerro are terminated by two fingers, of which the exterior is movable. They form the genus ScoRPIO, Lin., Fab. Scorpions have an elongated body, suddenly t~rminate? by a _long slender tail formed of six joints, the last of whtch termmates m an arcuated and excessively acute point or sting, which affords issue to a venomous fluid contained in an internal reset·voir, forming a long square, and usually marked in the middle by a longitudinal sulcus, presenting on each side, and neat· its anterior extremity, three or two simple eyes, forming a curved line, and near the middle of the back two others, also simple, which are approximated. The palpi are vet·y large, with a forceps at the extremity resembling a hand; their first joint forms a concave and rounded jaw. There is a triangular appendage at the origin of each of the four anterior legs, which (appendages) by their approximation have the appearance of a quadripartite lip; the two lateral divisions, however, may be considered as a kind of jaws, the remaining two forming the ligula. (1) Plwlangium reniforme, L.; Pall. Spic. Zool. fascic. IX, iii, 5, 6; Her~st. Monog. Phal., lll; East Indies, the Sechcllcs; Herbst., lb., IV, 1, South Ame~·lca; Tarantula rcniformis, Fab.; Pall Spic. Zool., !X, iii, 3, 4; Herbst. lb. V, 1; eJusd. IV, 2, var.? the Antilles. (2) P!talangittm caudatum, L.; Pall. Spic. Zool. fascic. IX, iii, 1, 2, from Java. South America produces anothet· species dcsc•·ibed and figured in the .Jot~t·. _de Pbys. et d'Ilist. Nat., 1777; the inhabitants of Martinique call it the Vznatgrter. A third species, smaller than the preceding ones, and with fulvous feet, inhabits the peninsula bryond the Ganges. |
