DB. JOHNSTON ON THE ACARIDES OP BBBWICKSHIEK. 369 



Dssa Mite about half the size of the Gamasus coleoptra- 

 torum and of a uniform brown colour: Body rounded, 

 convex dorsally, slightly narrower and obsoletely pointed in 

 front, bristly ; the hack even and glossy, minutely punctu- 

 lated ; the venter plano-convex, margined, the insertions of the 

 legs half-way between the margin and the mesial line on a ster- 

 nal plate truncate behind, the insertions of the three hinder 

 pairs approximated, that of the first pair a little more distant : 



Palpi (Fig. a) longer than 

 the rostrum, filiform or only 

 slightly tapered, bristly, 6- 

 jointed, thethree lower joints 

 larger and longer than the 

 other three, and the termi- 

 nal one minute rounded on 

 the apex and armed with 

 longer bristles : Legs 8, about 

 half the length of the body, 

 the first pair (Fig. d) longest 

 and directed forwards, the 

 fourth pair next in length 

 but scarcely exceeding the 

 intermediate pairs which are 

 about equal, 6-jointed; the 

 two basilarjoints minute, the 

 3d much thickened and 

 kneed with a constricted articulation, the 4th and 5th about 

 half the size of the third, the 6th elongate, straight in the 

 anterior legs and obliquely truncate at the extremity, which 

 is armed with long straight bristles, one extended far beyond 

 the others and beyond the pedunculated vesicle^ which is 

 lobed and furnished with two minute claws ; the tarsal joint 

 of the other legs tapered, armed with short spines (not with 

 bristles), and the vesicle is less and only shortly peduncu- 

 lated. 



The oral apparatus consists of a pair of strong slightly- 

 curved mandibles (Fig. h h) which have two claws and one or 

 two setae on their inner aspect ; and between them there pro- 

 jects a long tapered sharp-pointed stylette (Fig. c) which is 

 beautifully barbed with short seta). These organs can be seen 

 only when the mite is compressed under the microscope, for 

 when at rest they and the palpi do not project beyond the front, 

 but are kept bent underneath. This is often the case too 

 with some of the hinder legs, which can be bent and con- 



