91 



length. They are attached to the anterior half of the trunk, inferi- 

 orly. The tarsi are terminated by fan-like expansible feet, furnished 

 on the back with long recurved claws. The feet, which are beautiful 

 microscopic objects, are represented in the expanded state at fig. 4 ; 

 and one of the legs, with the foot contracted, in fig. 3. 

 From the foregoing I conclude : — 



1. That the Acari now presented to the Society are the young of a 

 species of Ixodes. 



2. That they are gifted with extraordinary powers of vitality in the 

 absence of nutriment of any kind. 



3. That this genus has no mouth, properly so called, but imbibes 

 its food through two suctorial tubes contained in the mandibles. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATES IX. AND X. 



PLATE IX. 



Fig. 1. Dorsal view of the Carapato. b. The mandibles, c. The palpi. 

 Fig. 2. Abdominal view of ditto, a. The sternal labium, c. The palpi. 



In these two figures the smaller one is magnified about 18, and the larger one 

 about 50 linear. 

 Fig. 3. One of the legs with the foot contracted. 

 Fig. 4, 4'. 4". Magnified views of the feet when expanded, in three different positions. 



PLATE X. 



Fig. 5. The head magnified, seen from above, a. The palpi, b. The mandibles. 



Fig. 6. Magnified view of the head &c. seen from beneath, o. The palpi, b. The 

 mandibles, c. The maxillae, d. The sternal labium. 



Fig. 7. The oral apparatus, highly magnified, seen from above, a. The sternal labi- 

 um, bb. The mandibles, cc. The palpi. 



Fig. 8. Magnified view of the oral apparatus, seen from beneath, a. The sternal la- 

 bium, showing its curious scales, bb. The mandibles, cc. The palpi. 

 These two figures are magnified about 150 linear. 



Fig. 9. One of the maudibles with the organs of nutrition, magnified about 300 linear. 

 a. The suctorial tube. b. Blade resembling a saw. c. Blade for cutting. 

 d. Hook. 



