DR. JOHNSTON ON TUS A0ABIDB6 OF BERWICKSHIRE. SIS 



pair still a little shorter ; 6-jointed, Ist joint short, 2d a little 

 longer, 3d still longer, 4th twice as long as the third, 6th 

 longer than the fourth, and much slenderer, the 6th shorter 

 than the fifth, and obliquely narrowed near the extremity, 

 which is armed with two strong simple curved claws moving 

 in the same direction, the tarsal portion of the joint under- 

 neath them being covered with short equal bristles : Bristles 

 of the body and legs setaceous, smooth, and somewhat curved ; 

 those on the legs patent, while the shorter hirsuties is ap- 

 pressed. 



The Rostrum consists of two valves in close apposition, of 

 an elongate triangular shape cut into on the apex with a 

 deep incisure. When closed they form a conical labrum 

 which protects and covers two strong mandibles, broad at the 

 base, but narrowing rather abruptly on the upper half and 

 terminated with a neat sickle-shaped claw, which moves in 

 a concave joint. I believe that, when not in action, this 

 claw fits into the cleft of the sheaths of the labrum. Both 

 the sheaths and mandibles are sparingly furnished with bris- 

 tles. 



The Linnaean specific character of Acarus baccarum is, — 

 " A. abdomine distento rubro, lateribus obscurioribus." The 

 character is, in some respect, made more obviously distinct 

 by killing the insect in spirits. In a short time the colour of 

 the body becomes a straw-yellow, but the darker parts re- 

 main unchanged ; and then the reddish patch on each side 

 near the posterior angles, the reddish spot in front, and the 

 broad fascia across the venter form a stronger contrast. The 

 insect is large for a mite, although much less than the Trom- 

 bidium holosericeum with which Linnajus contrasts it It is 

 found during the summer in gardens running over the leaves 

 of flowers ; and may be often seen on strawberriea Linnaeus 

 says, " habitat in baccis Ribis aliisque, frequenter cursitans." 

 I find it often on rasps and brambles in our deans. Its mo- 

 tion is remarkably quick, and it runs about describing short 

 and imperfect circles as if at a loss whither to go, and ever 

 changing its mind as to the course it should pursue.* "When 



• " luorcdibly great, also, is the rapidity with which a little reddish mite, 

 with two black dots on the anterior part of its hack (Oamasus baccarum. F.J, 

 common upon strawberries, moves along. Such is the velocity with which it 

 runs, that it appears rather to glide or fly than to nse its legs." Kirby and 

 Spence, Entom. ii. p. 811. — If intended to ipply to oar species, the paragraph 

 i» somewhat cxaggcrat^jd. 



