DB. JOHNSTON ON THB ACARIDES OF BEBWICKSHIRE. 307 



the claws of the forceps elongate, applying close to each other, 

 the apex of the outer curving over the inner one, which is 

 alone moveable. They resemble the claws of the lobster or 

 scorpion ; and the inner edge of each claw is serrulate. The 

 shaft is marked with a longitudinal and mesial line. The 

 shafts are extrusive, being pushed out like a telescope, and 

 can be readily extended beyond the palpi ; and one can be 

 moved independently of the other. 



When compressed between plates of glass, a few bristles 

 are seen scattered over the body. The skin is firm and cori- 

 aceous, like that of a beetle of the same size. The legs arise 

 from the anterior third of the body, and from the sides of 

 the venter ; and their bristles are setaceous and smooth. 



I find this mite amongst moss, but the structure of the 

 oral apparatus and of the tarsi would lead us to infer that 

 it is a parasite. It is moderately quick. When placed on 

 the back, it cannot recover its right position on a level sur- 

 face. It offers no peculiar attraction, but it is very curious 

 in the pretty contrivance of the structures of the mouth and 

 feet revealed by the microscope ; and our admiration is scarcely 

 awakened (for art might imitate the work as it lies magni- 

 fied in view), until we call back to judgment the fact that 

 the entire body, of which these form only a small portion, is 

 not half-a-line in length ! Then indeed we estimate aright 

 their most exquisite and minute beauty, which even the sub- 

 tlest artist from fairy land would in vain attempt to imitate. 



The mite is not described by Linnaeus nor by Muller. In 

 the classification of Mons. A. Dugbs it is referable to the 

 family Gamasei, although the body is not depressed ; but it 

 cannot be referred to any genus in that family characterised 

 by Dug^s. It is not amongst those mites which Gervais has 

 collected together in Walckenaer's History of Apterous Insects. 

 I conjecture that it belongs to the genus Eumaeus (= Leio- 

 notus, Koch) of Koch, but as he has given no character of 

 the species in his Uebersicht, I must impose upon ours a name 

 arid discriminative mark. (1) Eumcpus inornatus, ovatus 

 piceus, abdomine pedibusque pallidioribus, dorso convexo laevi 

 nitido. — Long, vix J lin. sequat. — Habitat in muscis. 



