Title: The animal kingdom, arranged after its organization, forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy
Identifier: animalkingdom00cuvi (find matches)
Year: 1854 (1850s)
Authors: Cuvier, Georges, baron, 1769-1832; Blyth, Edward, 1810-1873; Mudie, Robert, 1777-1842; Johnston, George, 1797-1855; Westwood, J. O. (John Obadiah), 1805-1893; Carpenter, William Benjamin, 1813-1885
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: London, W. S. Orr and co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Traced, in the form of a muzzle or beak. The majority have eight legs, the others six.* This family is composed of two tribes. The first tribe is that of the harvest-men, Phalangita, Latr., having the chelicerae very apparent, either projecting in front of the trunk or being inferior, but always terminating in a didactyle forceps, preceded by one or two joints. They have two filiform palpi of five joints, the last terminated by a small hook; two distinct eyes; two maxillae, formed by the prolongation of the basal joint of the palpi, and often four others, composed merely of the dilated coxae of the two anterior pairs of feet. The body is oval or rounded, covered, at least upon the thorax, by a more solid skin. The abdomen exhibits the appearance of foldings. The legs are long, always eight in number, and divided distinctly, in the manner of those of insects. Many (Phalangium) have, at the base of the two posterior feet, two spira- cles, one on each side, but hidden by the coxa;. The majority live on the ground, upon plants, or at the roots of trees, and they are very active; others hide themselves beneath stones, or in moss. Phalangium, Linn., has the chelicerae projecting, much shorter than the body, and the eyes placed upon a common tubercle. The legs are very long and slender, and, when detached from the body, they exhibit signs of irritability for a few moments. Ph. cornutum, Linn., male ; Ph. opilio, Linn., female; and other native species. Consult, also, the monographs of this genus published by Latreille at the end of his llist. Fig. 37.—Phalangium cornutum. Nat. des Fourmis; Herbst. and Hermann, Mem. Apte'rolog. Gongleptes, Kirby, has the palpi spined, with the two terminal joints nearly equal-sized ; and the coxae of the hind pair of legs are very large, and soldered together, forming a plate beneath the body. The hind legs are wide apart from the others. G. horridus, Kirby. Brazil. Siro, Latr., has the chelicerae projecting nearly as long as the body; the eyes wide apart, and each placed upon an isolated tubercle, or without support. 8. rubens, Latr. Macrocheles, Latr., has exposed and very long chelicerae, but the eyes are either sessile or wanting. The two fore-legs are very long, and resemble antennae. The upper side of the body is like a scale, without distinct articulations. Acarus marginatus, and A. testudi- nariut, Hermann. Troffulus, Latr., has the anterior extremity of the body projecting like a clypeus, receiving, in a cavity on its under-side, the chelicerae and other parts of the mouth. The body is very flat, and covered by a very firm skin. It is found beneath stones. T. nepaiformis, Latr. Phal. Mearinatum, Linn. South of France. I'M. Dufour has described a genus allied to the last under the name of Cwnilus, in the Annates des 8ci. Nat. for 1832. Many other very curious Brazilian species are described and figured by Perty, in the Delectus Animcdium Brasilia, in which many new genera are proposed for their reception. Another very singular species, with exceedingly long legs, is described by Mr. Hope, in the Linnxan Transactions, vol. xvii., under the name of DoUchoscelis JIawurthii.) The second tribe of the Arachnida holetra is that of the Acarides, which has occasionally chelicerae, but they are simply composed of a single pincer, either didactyle or clawed, ami hidden in a sternal lip. Sometimes there is a sucker, formed of lancet-like plates united together; or the mouth consists merely of a cavity, without any other apparent pieces. This tribe is composed of the geuus Acarus (Linn.),— The majority of the species of which arc very minute, or almost microscopical. They are universally dis- tributed. Some arc wanderers; and, amongst these, some are found under stones, leaves, the bark of trees, in the ground, the water, or upon provisions, such as flour, dried meat, old dry cheese, and upon putrid animal matters. Others subsist as parasites upon the skill, and in the flesh of different animals, often neatly weakening them by their excessive multiplication. The origin of certain diseases, especially the itch, is attributed to them. It appears, from the experiments of Dr. Galet, that the Mites of the human psora, placed upon the body of a perfectly healthy individual, will inoculate him with the serus of that disorder. Other sorts of mites are also found upon insects; and many beetles, winch subsist np09 cadaverous substances or excrement, are often entirely covered with them. They have even been ob- served in the brain and eyes of Man. The Mites ate oviparous, and exceeding!) prolific. Many of them arc born with only six feet, and the two others are developed a short time afterwards. The tarsi are • rrmiUlM \ongipm, Htm., l« figurtJ with ten l""«• '""i( '• J"'11 " "•>vi«s "nlr rlKht-
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Fig. 38.—Gonyltptci ac»u ttiurus.

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