32 Arachnida and Myriopoda 



account of this species : — " In Sydney, it has been reported that in 

 some cases where English starlings have built in the roof the 

 dwellers in the house have suffered much irritation from mites 

 introduced by the birds. In one case, in a church, it is said that 

 the roof had to be renovated on account of the annoyance caused 

 by these creatures.'' Specimens of Liponyssus bursa found biting 

 human beings at Sydney and the other two localities recorded 

 above are preserved in the collection of the British Museum 

 (Natural History). 



A species of Liponyssus (L. bacoti, Hirst) is parasitic on the 

 brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), and, as might be expected, this 

 mite has a very wide distribution. It has been recorded 

 as attacking human beings at Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and 

 Premantle in Australia. 



Family— BOLOTHYBIDAE. 



The mites belonging to the genus Holothyrus are globular or 

 ovate in shape and hard-skinned. They are red in colour and of 

 rather large size, the body measuring up to 6|mm. in length. 

 Very little is known about their habits, and their precise systematic 

 position is still in dispute. These Acari are found in Ceylon, 

 Mauritius, the Seychelles and other islands of the Indian Ocean, 

 and also in New Guinea. Several cases of poisoning due to 

 these mites have occurred in the island of Mauritius, the 

 principal symptoms being grave inflammation of the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth and pharynx. These cases are chiefly 

 found amongst children, who are affected by touching the 

 mouth with their hands after having meddled with these mites. 

 Apparently the Acarus secretes an irritant fluid, which is the 

 source of the trouble. It is said to be impossible to keep ducks 

 or geese in certain parts of Mauritius, where the Holothyrus 

 occurs in great numbers. Mr. Green, the well-known Ceylon 

 entomologist, accidentally touched his tongue with a finger 

 about five hours after handling one of these mites. He says : 

 " Immediately an extraordinarily pungent, galvanic sensation or 

 taste commenced rapidly to spread over my mouth, quickly 

 reaching my throat. Einsing my mouth and gargling with hot 

 water failed to arrest the progress of the sensation, which was 

 accompanied with excessive salivation. The unpleasantness lasted 

 for several hours, and then died away without any further conse- 



