At the base of the tubular passage formed by this modified first pair of
antennæ the true mouth is found opening directly into the dilated pharynx,
the muscles of which enable the act of suction to be carried out. The
narrow oesophagus leads out from the pharynx and is completely surrounded
by the supra- and infra-oesophageal nerve masses.
Huxley also describes the mouth of the scorpion in precisely the same
position (_cf. o_, Fig. 96).
{223}In order to convey to my readers the antennæ-like character of the
camerostome in Galeodes (Fig. 101), and its position, I give a figure (Fig.
94) of the organ from its dorsal aspect, after removal of the cheliceræ and
their muscles. A side view of the same organ is given in Fig. 95 to show
the feathered termination of the camerostome, and the position of the
dependent accessory portion (_l.l._) (Croneberg's 'untere Anhang') with its
single long antenna-like feather. In both figures the alimentary canal
(_al._) is seen issuing from the conjoined supra- and infra-oesophageal
mass.
As is seen in the figures, the bilateral character of the rostrum, as
Croneberg calls it, is apparent not only in its feathered extremity but
also in its chitinous covering, the softer median dorsal part (left white
in figure) being bounded by two lateral plates of hard chitin, which meet
in the middle line near the extremity of the organ. In all the members of
the scorpion group, as is clearly shown in Croneberg's figures, the rostrum
or camerostome is built up on the same plan as in Galeodes, though the
antenna-like character may not be so evident.
[Illustration: FIG. 95.--LATERAL VIEW OF BRAIN AND CAMEROSTOME OF GALEODES.
_gl. supr. oes._, supra-oesophageal ganglion; _gl. infr. oes._,
infra-oesophageal ganglion. The rest of the lettering same as in Fig. 94.]
When we consider that the first pair of antennæ in the crustaceans are
olfactory in function, Croneberg's observations amount to this--
In the arachnids and their allies the first pair of antennæ form a pre-oral
passage or tube, olfactory in function; the small mouth, which opens
directly into the pharynx, being situated at the end of this olfactory
passage.
{224}Croneberg's observations and conclusions are distinctly of very great
importance in bringing the arachnids into line with the crustaceans, and it
is therefore most surprising that they are absolutely ignored by Lankester
and Miss Beck in their paper published in 1883, in which Latreille only is
mentioned with respect to this organ, and his term "camerostome," or upper
lip, is used throughout, in accordance with the terminology in Lankester's
previous paper. That this organ is not only a movable lip or tongue, but
essentially a sense-organ, almost certainly of smell and taste, as follows
from Croneberg's conclusions, is shown by the series of sections which I
have made through a number of young Thelyphonus (Fig. 102).
[Illustration: FIG. 96.--MEDIAN SAGITTAL SECTION THROUGH A YOUNG
THELYPHONUS.]
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