92 DIAMONDS AND 



the terminal claw is carried by the side of an equally claw-shaped 

 projection, so that it requires a little management to demonstrate 

 that it is double. In the last figure, that of Eylais^ the whole 

 organ is more linear than in any other mite. The difference in these 

 organs is much more marked in the specimens themselves than 

 can possibly be shown by my mere outline sketches. 



I may just say, with regard to the last family of the fresh-water 

 mites, the Sumpfmilben, or Mud-mites, that Koch describes four 

 sub-families, but that hitherto I have only been fortunate enough 

 to meet with one of them, viz., Liinnochares^ and here th. palpi 

 are very small, and quite unlike those of any of the swimming 

 mites, also incapable of being used for the same purposes. I 

 should be glad of specimens for examination, if anybody working 

 in this peculiar groove has been fortunate enough to meet 

 with them. 



3)iamonl)6 anb tbeir llDietor?* 



By James A. Forster. 



FIRST PART. 



Plate lo. 



THE Diamond was probably not known in Europe before 

 direct intercourse with the nations of Southern India had 

 been brought about by the Macedonian conquests. It is 

 not mentioned by Theophrastus in his list of gems. The first 

 indisputable mention of the Adamas as the true Diamond, writes 

 Mr. King, " is by Manilius, a poet of the latter part of the Augus- 

 tan age, who describes its most striking characters, minute size, 

 and enormous value." 



There can, I think, be little doubt that the old writers fre- 

 quently confounded, under the name of Adamas, the Diamond 

 with the Sapphire, Chrysoberyl, Zircon, etc. ; but, to again quote 

 from Mr. King, "It is impossible to mistake Pliny's true meaning, 

 especially if attention is paid to the admirably chosen compari- 

 sons exemplifying the characters of the gem." King then gives a 



