X 



A. D. MICHAEL ON A STECIES OF GAMASUS. 265 



which are also possibly used in lifting the large chitinous flap 

 which covers the female organs. 



During the last-mentioned observations I had an opportunity 

 of seeing how the great apophysis on the enlarged second leg 

 of the male was used to retain the female. I found that it was 

 hooked round the leg of the female, giving a very firm grasp. 



I may also call attention to a remarkable axe-blade-shaped 

 chitinous projection on the second joint of the first leg of the 

 male. This leg is a tactile organ, but I am not able to give any 

 explanation of the use of this piece. 



Finally, I may mention that this is one of those species 

 where the dorsal shield is divided into two in the adult. I fear 

 that Dr. Kramer thought that, in my paper above referred to, I 

 denied. that the adults ever had the dorsal plate so divided, and 

 asserted that it was a sign of immature condition. I fear that 

 the language of my paper must have contained some ambiguity 

 which might mislead a foreigner, even when as well acquainted 

 with English as Dr. Kramer is ; but certainly I never intended 

 to state anything of the kind. I was well aware that in some 

 kinds the adults showed the dividing line ; but what I wished 

 to say was that, in the particular species I was then investigat- 

 ing, the plates were divided in the immature creature, but did 

 not show any division in the adult ; and that as some species 

 had the plate divided in the nymph and larva, but not in the 

 adult, and as the division of the plate could often be seen on 

 the cast skin or on a dissection when it could not be seen on 

 the living creature, I thought that the division of the plate was 

 not a character upon which it was desirable to found a classi- 

 fication. As I have not written any paper on the Gamasidce 

 since that as to which the mistake occurred, I have not had an 

 opportunity of correcting it before. 



Gamasus terribilis, n.s. 



Male. 

 Average length about 1*72 m.m. 

 ,, breadth „ 1*07 ,, 



,, length of 1st pair of legs about 1*40 m.m. 

 „ „ 2nd „ „ 1"09 „ 



,, ,, ord ,, ,, vo ,, 



„ „ 4th „ „ 1'35 .. 



Journ. Q. M. C, Series II., No. 15. Y 



