JS99.] Freeman. — Some Freshwater Mite? from Co. Dublin. 150 



I fished for mites a few times this year, adding the following 



species : — 



Cochleophorus vernalis (Miiller) C. L. Koch. — One example, 



female (April). Ditch near Broom Bridge. Royal Canal. 

 Llmnesfa Koenikel Piersig. — One example, Royal Canal (April), of 



hyaline ground colour, with faint blue epimera, palpi and legs. 



Perhaps this variety is synonymous with L. albella Koch, described 



also by Neuman. Mr. Halbert had previously detected L. Kcenikei. 

 Lebertia tau-insignita Lebert. — Pond by Grand Canal at Golliers- 



town (Easter). 

 Neuman (1880) described 20 genera and 69 species for 

 Sweden ; G. Haller (1882), 12 genera and 32 species for 

 Switzerland ; Krendowskij (1884), 10 genera and 35 species for 

 South Russia; Th. Barrois and R. Moniez (1887), 21 genera 

 and 72 species for the north of France. But Piersig (1897), 

 while he suppresses some species described by these investi- 

 gators, doubles for Germany the number recorded for North 

 France in the portion of his work that has already been pub- 

 lished. It is clear that much now remains to be done for a 

 Dublin list. 



The fresh-water mites, excepting a very few species parasitic 

 on Unto and Anodonta, are found among aquatic plants, and 

 may be taken with a finely-meshed water-net. They are most 

 plentiful in May and June, when often a single dip into a 

 bunch of Callitriche yields a quite embarrassing number of 

 specimens : many species can be taken in fair quantity in 

 March and April. My method of fishing is to use a net of 

 " grenadine," or of straining linen. Having passed it through 

 the water- weeds, I turn it inside out and wash it in a portable 

 white rubber camp-basin. All the mites taken will, in this 

 way, be secured, and the very smallest of them can be seen 

 swimming about. They are fished out of the basin with a 

 soft, rather large, camel-hair pencil, and dipped into a phial 

 containing water and some water-weed. When the creatures 

 touch the water they disengage themselves instantly, and so 

 are finally secured. The weed supplies a resting place for the 

 captures, and more or less' refuge from attack, for some kinds 

 — such as species of Limnesia and Hygtobates — are more than 

 commonly rapacious, and are apt to destroy less active and 

 softer skinned kinds, especially if numerous individuals are 

 contained in a vessel which does not afford " elbow-room " 

 enough. 



