< . I). S.iAlt ; NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS ON 



carried out in a different manner by different genera. I have 



had nymphs of the genus Piona which simply placed themselves 



in convenienl positions, such as in the fork between the leaf and 



• Anackai'is or other water-plants, and remained in a 



passive Btate for a day or two, then crawled out of the posterior 



end, leaving the old skin attached in the angle of the plant. 



M r. Williamson, of Edinburgh, once sent me several specimens just 



right time for obs rving this process. Our member 



Mr. Taverner has also had t lie same experience; and as far as I 



have been able to judge from personal observation, this is the only 



time they change their skins. But all species do not act in this 



manni r. 1 have observed several specimens myself, where the 



*s and all other appendages fall completely away, the mite 



being for the time a perfect egg-shaped creature ; but so thin is 



TVvT 



\\ 



& 



Fig. 2. 



the envelope that one can easily see and almost identify the 

 ere i\ lire within. Fig. 2, representing a species of the genus Eulais, 

 is a good example of this. Plate 29, d, e, and/, are figures of 

 Hydrachna globosa, all drawn to the same scale, and are intended 

 to .-hew the approximate growth of a mite in three stages. 

 1 ig. d is the larva one day old, Fig. e is the nymph fully 

 grown, and Fig. / is the full-grown adult. The legs are not 

 drawn for want of space. Having thus demonstrated how little 

 really know at present, I will in conclusion express a hope 

 thai I may hr able to supplement from time to time what 

 1 haw here said as new material and facts become available 

 in the life-cycles of these very beautiful and interesting little 

 creatui 



